How I Unwind After a Demanding Day Without Losing My Sanity

Some days feel like they never really end. You finish work, but your head’s still spinning, your shoulders are tight, and your thoughts are louder than they should be. For a long time, I didn’t know how to unwind after a demanding day. I thought a quick scroll through Instagram or a lazy dinner while replying to emails was enough. It wasn’t. That was just distraction dressed up as recovery.

The real shift

The real shift happened when I stopped trying to numb the stress and started listening to it. Now, I don’t jump from screen to screen. I pause. I breathe. I start with music—nothing too upbeat, just something that pulls me away from the noise in my head. Then I get rid of all notifications. No exceptions. If it’s urgent, people know how to reach me.

One thing that surprisingly helps? Lying flat on the floor with my legs up against the wall. It sounds weird, but it works. Ten minutes of that, and my entire nervous system starts calming down. I don’t need science to explain it—my body knows it’s the signal that the day is done.

Writing helps too

Not the structured kind. Just a brain dump. Thoughts, frustrations, weird ideas—anything. I use Apple Notes or Obsidian. It’s not about clarity. It’s about offloading. There’s something powerful about seeing your thoughts outside your head. It’s like letting them go without having to fix them right away.

And on some days, the only thing I do is watch my daughter sleep. Her tiny breaths, her little hands curled in fists—they remind me that there’s a world outside work that’s slower, softer, and infinitely more important.

Why your version matters

What I’ve learned is that unwinding isn’t one-size-fits-all. You don’t need candles, or classical music, or a journal with motivational prompts. You just need something that brings you back to yourself. Your way to unwind after a demanding day should feel like home—not another item on a to-do list.

So start small. Notice what makes your body feel lighter. Notice what makes your mind feel quieter. And make space for that every night. Not because it looks good on a routine tracker, but because you need to be ready for tomorrow. Not tired of it before it begins.