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Working productively: Tips for ending your workday

At the end of the day, you can stop working and walk out the door. But that doesn't always mean that you've really left work behind. After a stressful day, you might have trouble relaxing or have a tough moment or challenge stuck in your head. But it is important to try to leave work behind so that when you come back, you feel refreshed and ready to give it your all.

The following ideas may help you make the transition from work to home:

Use your commute to unwind. If you drive to work, listen to relaxing music or a book on tape. If you take public transportation, bring along an MP3 player or a favorite magazine to read during the trip.

Avoid talking too much about work problems with friends and family. It's OK to talk about a really bad day or tell a funny story. But sometimes, too much work talk outside of work can actually bring back stress or make you feel like you never left work. Try to do most of your venting with coworkers before you leave.

Give yourself a few minutes to switch gears when you get home. Tell your children and your spouse that you need 15 minutes to switch gears. Change your clothes, eat a snack or do something else that marks the end of the workday and the beginning of the rest of your day before you jump into your home routine.

If you are tense or sore after work, take a few minutes to stretch. After a long day, your neck, back or legs might be stiff from sitting in one position for so long. Even two minutes of light stretching can help you work out knots and feel more refreshed.

Do something pleasurable after work. Call a friend, spend time with your child or spouse -- anything that makes you feel calm and relaxed and helps you put work aside. Exercise is a good way to relieve stress at the end of the day.

Try to put work problems out of your mind when your shift ends. An angry customer or a conflict with a coworker can be hard to let go of when the workday is over. Tell yourself that there is nothing you can do about the problem now. Then put it out of your mind.

This article is adapted from Ceridian's LifeWorks Online service. Contact your Ceridian representative for more information about Ceridian's health and productivity solutions.