Ways to Disconnect from Work and Enjoy Yourself

It happens without us even noticing it. Our work becomes the center of our concerns. Then, it becomes practically the only thing that occupies our mind, time, and emotions. We discover that we can’t disconnect from work and just enjoy life.

It’s like being trapped with no way out. We want to rest and dedicate more time to other things, but it becomes impossible. Disconnecting from work makes us feel guilty and anxious.

Little by little, we begin to feel as if something is missing. Until we find it, we can’t feel at peace. It’s a trap. The thing we think is missing has always existed inside us. But this sensation keeps us from disconnecting. We have an irrational fear that our carelessness will make us lose our jobs. What should we do to disconnect from work? These five ideas can help you.

Do pleasant activities

First of all, you must be aware that living like this is no way to live. You neglect the people you love and spend all your time in latent anguish. Your life feels very limited and you don’t really experience the joy of living.

A good way to disconnect from work is making a list of 20 things you once liked to do. You should do at least one of these activities every day.

Savor and perceive: A way to disconnect from work

Sometimes the best way to disconnect from work and to reconnect with life involves using your senses. Surely you’ve forgotten to look at many things, to taste others, and to perceive the vast world that surrounds you.

Start by concentrating on what you eat. Smell the aroma and feel the texture. Do the same with the music you listen to, the landscapes or works of art that you contemplate, and the smells you perceive.

We begin to rediscover ourselves when we remember that we interact with the world with our five senses.

Disconnect from technology

For many people, disconnecting from technology is impossible. They just can’t live without their phones or without checking their email. Some people even feel a real panic about what may happen while they’re disconnected from their devices. They think they’ll miss out on something very important.

Turning off your phone or computer is an essential way to disconnect from work. As difficult as it may seem, it’s not so terrible once you do it. You’d be surprised at how relaxing it can feel. If you think you can’t totally disconnect from technology, at least try to limit the amount of time you use your phone or the Internet.

Get a new hobby

Some people think that when they disconnect from work, they’ll fall into an unbearable void. This terrifies them. For them, only two realities exist. One of them is work. The other is nothing, only the unpredictable, chaotic, or irrelevant.

To disconnect from work, there’s nothing better than getting a new hobby. This new activity will become part of that other reality where you once thought there was nothing. A new hobby may  help you avoid the feeling of emptiness you experience when you try to get away from your work obligations. With time, this hobby will surely help you understand there’s more to life than work.

Relaxation techniques

Practicing some relaxation techniques always helps. When you find it impossible to disconnect from work, it’s because you’re probably under a lot of stress. Stress feeds itself. That is why it’s important to stop and stabilize your emotions in order to put your body back into a normal rhythm.

Many effective and interesting relaxation techniques exist, such as yoga or meditation. If you find it too demanding in the beginning, try to simply give yourself some time each day to breathe. It takes about 15 minutes a day. Make it a habit and don’t abandon it.

Learning to disconnect from work without feeling guilty or anxious is fundamental to our physical and emotional health. Free time is a valuable asset that we should never give up. Life is made up of many layers and we deprive ourselves of great wonders if we only concentrate on one of them.