If stress from work is infiltrating your personal life, consider making some positive changes. Managing stress in the workplace and also at home can be a key to a happy, balanced life. Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to leave your work at work so you can start every day on the right foot, whether you're spending it relaxing or getting things done.

Distract Your Mind with Music

After leaving for the day, you deserve to enjoy the aspects of life that make you happy. It can be all too easy to continue dwelling on work projects or revisiting your next day's to-do list. Instead, try to occupy your mind with whatever brings you joy. Sometimes, it can be as easy as plugging in some earbuds or headphones and listening to your favorite playlist. Music can be a fantastic distraction, and headphones allow you to take your tunes with you wherever you go, whether you're going on a run or just unwinding on your couch at home. Reading a book or watching a movie can be other options for distracting an overactive mind.

Make Your Home Your Sanctuary

Consider viewing your home as your personal oasis where the struggles of work have no power. When you walk in your front door, stress from work might immediately melt away. Of course, that's easier said than done, so consider taking steps to turn your home into a place that you look forward to inhabiting. For example, a massage cushion or massage chair can turn an average television-watching session into a luxurious experience that helps you to unwind physically, mentally and emotionally. Another way to help make your home more welcoming and serene is to decorate it with live plants. There's something about nature that combats stress, and house plants can provide an air of tranquility and freshness that other decorations can't match.

Make Plans for After Work

Having something to look forward to after work can help make the day go by faster. Try to make plans with friends and family in advance so you always have something fun on the horizon. Human interaction can really help to alleviate stress, anxiety and frustration. If nobody is around, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy alone, however, such as going to the gym, taking a hike or going shopping. Using calendars and planners is a good way to get your week lined up in advance, and they can also help to hold you accountable so you don't cancel after a long day. Once you write down your plan, try to make a promise to yourself to stick with it. Eventually, every time you look at your calendar, you might naturally get excited for what the future holds.

Leave Work on Time

If you're overworked, you can be stressed, too. Part of finding balance in life is knowing when to call it quits, so make sure you're out of the office at the same time every day. Even if you're working on an important project, there is always time to finish it tomorrow, and as long as you put in your best effort, there's no reason to feel guilty. There might be exceptions when staying late is unavoidable, but try to make those occasions as rare as possible. One way to ensure you're not accidentally burning the midnight oil is to set an alarm clock at your desk, and try to make it a habit to stand up and pack your things as soon as it goes off. This way of training yourself to react to a certain sound may seem silly at first, but eventually it becomes second nature. Just try to make sure you don't hit the snooze button.

Get Active

After a long day of sitting, it's time to get your blood pumping. Physical activity creates endorphins in your body that can effectively reduce stress, anxiety and depression while boosting your mood and your overall self-confidence.[1] You could join a local gym, or better yet, simply buy some basic exercise equipment to use at home. Basic items such as resistance bands, jump ropes and balance boards can fit easily in your home, and they can make working out convenient and fun. Exercising is good because it wakes you up and makes you feel more motivated, and when the day is done, you get a better night's sleep so you're refreshed for the next workday. Regular exercise can go a long way in improving both your workday and your personal life, plus it can help to improve your overall health.

Finding balance in life requires effort, but once you're there, it becomes easier. When you start to notice stressful feelings, ask yourself why they're occurring, and consider taking steps to fix them. Sometimes relatively simple changes, such as reducing your workload, getting more sleep at night or starting your day with a healthy meal, can really work wonders. Try to maintain a separation between your professional and personal lives, and also to remember the adage about all work and no play.

1. https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression#1