Great ways to spend time after work

We all know the feeling of summer inching a bit closer every day. The sun likes to rise a little earlier and seems to linger a little longer into the evening each day. With the suns rays comes a great opportunity to make the most of doing things we enjoy. Here are some ideas of great ways to spend time after work

Spending time with family/friends

After a days work we must unwind from the stressors faced throughout the day. A great way to do that is to smile and laugh. Who better to help us with that than friends and family. It doesn’t matter who it is, spending time after work with others in a relaxed environment is a sure way to alleviate stress. Playing out in the yard with your kids is a great way for everyone to be active, strengthen relationships. With the days getting longer this allows more time after work to spend with the people you cherish. What could be better than that?

Exercise

With winter in full swing and the sun in bed before the end of the workday, it can feel daunting trying to find the time to fit in some daily exercise. Increasing hours of sunlight gives more opportunity and time after work for a powerful workout. Sunlight is like an added secret ingredient to a workout. It brings many benefits such as improved sleep, immune function and a boost in mood. The more sunlight in the day equals a longer workout, or the chance to get a workout in without having to sacrifice other daily activities. Check out our blog Why exercise should be a tradies best tool for more information 

Read/listen to a book or podcast

The world of books has changed dramatically over the years, we now can access an almost endless library of books wherever we are. Whether you are a paperback connoisseur or prefer the ease and accessibility of the digital world of ebooks and audiobooks or even podcasts there is no excuse for anybody to not find something that tickles their fancy. The benefits of reading/listening to books are undeniable, whether it’s improving vocabulary, reducing stress, or becoming more empathetic by putting you into someone else’s shoes, finding time to enjoy a book is a no brainer. It’s also time to take the book out of the armchair, and into the sunlight. Whatever the method is, it doesn’t matter just go find a book and enjoy it.

Mindfulness

In our crazy world, we rarely find the time to stop and ‘smell the roses’. We don’t often allow ourselves to pay attention to what’s going on right in front of us. It is a good idea to try and set aside some time daily to practice mindfulness. This definition of mindfulness from headspace gives a great understanding of what we are talking about. 

“First, it’s helpful to become familiar with the meaning of mindfulness, as well as how it relates to meditation. Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment — free from distraction or judgment, and aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. We train in this moment-to-moment awareness through meditation, allowing us to build the skill of mindfulness so that we can then apply it to everyday life. In teaching the mind to be present, we are teaching ourselves to be live more mindfully — in the present, taking a breath, not beholden to reactive thoughts and feelings — which is particularly helpful when faced with challenging circumstances or difficult situations.”

Introducing mindfulness can see, heightened levels of happiness, patience, acceptance and compassion. Along with lower levels of stress frustration and sadness. Who wouldn’t want that? Being able to set even a small amount of time aside to practise mindfulness can be very beneficial. There is a range of apps, videos and website available making it very easy to get started. Head over to Headspace for more information on mindfulness.