Let’s be real, some days at work feel like you’ve been personally victimized by your inbox, sabotaged by Karen from accounting, and emotionally drained by back-to-back Zoom calls that could’ve been emails.
But don’t worry, queen. Just because your day was a disaster doesn’t mean your evening has to be. Here are eight genius, foolproof ways to reset your energy and reclaim your sanity, before you turn into an overworked, sleep-deprived corporate zombie.
1. Scream Into the Void (or Your Pillow)
Sometimes, the only way to shake off the frustration is to literally let it out. A good, dramatic scream into a fluffy pillow (or in your car with the windows up) can be strangely therapeutic. Bonus points if you follow it up with a victory stance in the mirror. You survived. You’re unstoppable.
2. Take a Scalding Hot Shower, And Mentally Rehearse Quitting
Few things are as satisfying as standing under a shower so hot it feels like you’re being baptized into a fresh start. As you let the stress melt off, imagine delivering a dramatic resignation speech. Will you flip your desk? Slam your laptop shut? Leave with a mic-drop-worthy one-liner? Live the fantasy.
3. Channel Your Inner Olympic Athlete at the Gym
Your boss may have won today, but you? You’re about to deadlift all that negative energy into oblivion. Whether it’s running, boxing, or aggressively cycling like you’re escaping your responsibilities, moving your body can turn rage into empowerment. And hey, revenge is best served with sculpted arms.
4. Rage-Clean Something
Oh, you thought you’d come home and relax? Nope. You’re about to scrub your kitchen counters with the force of someone who just got assigned another “quick task” at 4:59 PM. Turn on some angry music, channel your inner cleaning goddess, and watch your stress disappear, along with those coffee stains.
5. Indulge in an Unapologetic Comfort Ritual
You deserve this. Whether it’s devouring an entire cheese board, binge-watching trash TV, or curling up in your softest blanket with a book that has nothing to do with productivity, give yourself guilt-free joy. No, you don’t need to “use your time wisely.” You are using it wisely by recharging your soul.
6. Send Passive-Aggressive Texts (But Don’t Hit Send)
Nothing soothes office-induced rage like typing out the perfect, scathing response to your coworker who “accidentally” took credit for your work. Type it out. Read it. Laugh. Then delete it because you’re too powerful to engage in workplace drama.
7. Reclaim Your Identity Outside of Work
Reminder: You are not just your job. Do something that reminds you of the badass human you are. Paint, play music, go out with friends, plan a trip, or plot your next career move. Your 9-5 does not define you.
8. Go to Bed Ridiculously Early Like a Victorian Child
There’s no better way to bounce back than to sleep off today’s nonsense. Dim the lights, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, and sleep like you don’t have 57 unread emails waiting for you in the morning.
Your Turn: How Do You Reset?
What’s your go-to way to bounce back after a workday from hell? Drop your best stress-busting tip in the comments, because let’s be real, we all need a few more tricks up our sleeves.