I'm finding it hard to balance work / home

Hello Nan! Thank you for reaching out to BetterHelp with your question regarding being able to "turn work off" once you are home. That can be such a challenging task, right? I would imagine it is particularly hard for a community service worker.

I will say that you are not alone. Most of us have a hard time switching off work, or at least the stress and thoughts of work, once we get home at the end of the day. Sometimes it seems like the mind seems determined to refuse to let go of the day's events and worries. In a nutshell, what is going on is a side-effect of stress. The stress response is triggered when demands overload your ability to cope with them and as a result, it basically sends us into fight or flight mode.

I am going to offer you a few ideas to help you unwind after a busy day. I know that you said you recently quit your job; however, maybe you can find these tips helpful at your next place of employment.

1. Spend the time between work and home to transition from "work mode" to "relax mode." Try not to spend your commute thinking about what happened that day. Instead, you could listen to calming music, tune in to a podcast, do some breathing exercises, or listen to an audiobook.

2. Try to create an "after-work routine." Make coming home something to look forward to. Get in a habit of doing something you like as soon as you get home. That may be taking a bath, eating your favorite snack, going for a brisk walk, etc.

3. My last tip may seem very simple, but I promise you that it is incredibly effective. Take time to breathe! Taking intentional deep breaths is one of the most effective ways to destress from any situation. It takes your body out of the fight-or-flight response. I will encourage you to set aside at least five minutes each day to focus on taking deep breaths. This can even be on your way home from work. 

Remember that unplugging is key to coming back happier, stronger, and healthier the next day!