Every working professional is different—different in the way they approach work, and different in the way they approach relaxation. Still, most hard-working adults share at least one thing in common: They each deal with daily stressors.
Whether it’s the continual pinging of inbox notifications, the gradual mounting of time-sensitive assignments, or the interpersonal pressure of navigating workplace disputes, most professionals feel their fair share of stress in a day. When they finally get home and kick off their socks, they want that stress to come away just as easily.
This article explores four of the most common rituals for unwinding. Are you a Zen monk, cigar-puffer, cocktail sipper or spa-goer? Find out what ritual is right for you.
Scientific studies show that simple breathing and mindfulness exercises can kick stress by lowering cortisol levels and changing your relationship to stressors. Some research even indicates that the practices physically alter your brain chemistry, creating new neural pathways and lasting cognitive benefits.
The process is deceptively simple. Find a quiet corner of the home, sit in a relaxed position, and focus on your breathing. Naturally, thoughts will arise; try not to attach your focus to any single thought, allowing them instead to “float” by. Over time, this trains your brain to view thoughts as transitory—not cause for upset or pressure.
This ritual seems like the furthest thing possible from the last item on the list. However, mindfulness and enjoying a fine cigar share more in common than many would admit. They both revolve around the breath. They both involve slowing down time to focus on sensory pleasures instead of getting hung up on future or past problems. And they both have little rituals accompanying them that make the processes feel practiced and deliberate.
Plus, smoking an artisan-made, richly complex cigar is just immensely pleasurable. Before taking up the hobby, read resources on how to cut and light a cigar properly, as well as correctly store a cigar in a humidor with Boveda 2-way humidity control packs.
Your version of relaxation may involve spa-style pampering. You certainly wouldn't be alone in that preference.
Again, science shows that there’s some hard evidence to support the thesis that spas help you relax. Hot water baths lower your blood pressure and promote muscle relaxation while simultaneously alleviating the joint pressure common to desk work. Meanwhile, add-ons like aromatherapy, music, and massaging jets each relieve tension in their own way.
Finally, there's the age-old after-work unwinder: a drink. Some people opt for a relatively simple (and antioxidant-rich) glass of red wine, while others find that building a cocktail is part of the relaxing ritual.
What’s great about an after-work beverage is that you can combine it with any other activity. A robust red wine or peppery Manhattan pairs beautifully with a fine cigar, creating a one-two punch to your after-work tension that also lets you revel in life’s finer things. Meanwhile, a light cocktail, white wine, or non-alcoholic refresher is an ideal accompaniment to an at-home spa experience.
