How I Unplug to Recharge

My job asks me to devote a large portion of my day online. I'm always on my technology throughout the day. Although it’s something I love doing, I can tell when my tank is empty. It is my passion to connect with others online and something I always enjoy doing. But, it does drain me by the end of the week and I start feeling less creative and harder to engage with. When I get into that headspace, I realize that I have drained my own battery and won’t be able to do my very best until I recharge. By regaining my creativity, and sorting my thoughts I unplug to recharge.

Here are some tips from me to you on the ways I unplug to recharge.

It all starts with the right start to the beginning of your day.

I find it helps to set a good intention from the moment I get up. It sets the gears in motion for positivity and lightness for the day.

I wake up early, especially now that I’ve got two new kittens in the house its impossible to sleep until 7 am. But before I even get up and out of bed I thank the universe for allowing me another beautiful day on this earth. I meditate for about 5-10 minutes depending on emotions, and heart alignment. I usually go with the “Greeting the Day” meditation as a great start from @STB App. It helps me align my thoughts and feelings while feeling my presence.

I’ll leave my phone still charging at my desk. I'll grab a coffee, feed the kittens and journal my thoughts and the dreams I may remember from the night before. Journaling helps get my stream of consciousness out and lets me feel heard. Sometimes my inner monologue can get in the way of my daily tasks so this helps sort it all out.

Doing these things helps my mind and body stay aligned, all the while charging me for the day ahead.

I keep my phone at my desk at the end of the day and I walk away to think.

I work remotely at the moment. I’m so grateful and thankful for that opportunity. Being able to walk away and leave my phone at my desk with my work stuff is a blessing. I walk away, and take a breather. I make dinner for myself and relax with my friends or family for the rest of the evening. I try to stay present with them. It’s important to keep our relationships connected by spending uninterrupted time together. By not having my phone as a constant distraction or a conduit to stress, I am able to connect with my friends and family. By doing this it helps my brain unplug and enjoy the moment.

Wednesday nights are my self care nights.

I'll listen to music, soak my feet in lavender Epsom salts, and have a bath to relax. I already feel myself recharging the moment I stick my feet in my foot bath. Salt is a purifier for our bodies and helps remove impurities, our feet being a huge receptor on our bodies. I’ve been reading about reflexology in our feet and I think it’s important to guide in our own whole body healing. Our feet carry a lot of the stress from our day and by massaging them it releases toxins from our body. I’ll sometimes wear a face mask to get my face feeling fresh for the rest of the week. I use essential oils on my feet, and back to relax and massage away any left over stress from the day.

But not all my self care nights look like that. Sometimes, my self care can be a night of journaling, drawing, while I listen to my favourite music, or podcasts. Every week looks a little bit different but it helps me understand where I am and where I need to recharge most!

Self care looks different for everyone and that's ok! Do what brings you joy and gets you away from your stress in a positive way. Let me know in the comments below how you care for yourself!

Prep for the night- I meditate, breathe, and journal before bed.

I use my guided meditation app called @SBTApp and I find it helps me track my progress. But the app also helps me get out of my head for 10-15 minutes. I use the 4-7-8 yoga breathing technique to get my body relaxed and ready for bed. I do gentle stretching before bed to get my body feeling aligned again. I journal about my thoughts and my day for about 10 minutes. When I’m done I rub lavender essential oils on the bottoms of my feet and crawl into my bed with a good book. Making sure my phone is not a distraction...which leads me to my next tip.

I leave my phone on airplane mode between 8:30 pm - 8 am.

Airplane mode is a godsend from the tech world. It helps me to get a break from all the messages, emails, notifications, I receive after hours. I remind myself that these things can wait til the next day. Although, sometimes I break my own rule, I try to follow it as closely as I can. It’s been a slow process of getting the proper schedule down but I can mix it up with it as much or as little as I like.

As a little project lately, I’ve been redecorating my bedroom to create a sanctuary. This is a space that takes a break from technology. It helps me keep my peace of mind knowing I have a place to get away from technology!

Going to bed early helps heal our brains.

Setting a good sleep routine helps get us ready for the next day ahead!

I’ve been reading a lot about sleep lately and its importance for our bodies and our brains. Sleep helps our mental health, our heart health, and boosts our immune system. By getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night, this allows our body to recharge, heal, and restore. By getting a good sleep, we can take on the next day with more mental alertness and sharpness. Count me in!

I hope that helps give you some insight in my routine to try to get a better sleep and recharge! Let me know how you recharge I'd love to add more to my routine!

- Wellness Wonder Woman

More to consider:

“Three Breathing Exercises and Techniques”

Stop Breathe and Think App

Check out their app for tons of meditations and breathing techniques.