It can be a challenge to wind down from a hard day at work. Without realizing it you can be rushing around your home as if you are still at the office and every task has to be done yesterday. You need to notice when this is happening and take some steps to relax.

First make sure that you change out of your work clothes when you get home, maybe even have a shower. When you get dressed for work in the morning you also put yourself in the working frame of mind, changing into more comfortable clothing will help you change your frame of mind.

Put on some relaxing music. Studies have shown that our heart rates match the music that we are listening to. Choosing relaxing music to listen to will slow down your heart rate after only a few minutes.

Breathe in a more relaxed manner. Make sure you are breathing with your diaphragm so that your stomach moves in and out as you are breathing. If you can, sit or lie down somewhere and take a deep breath in. Hold it for 3 seconds, then breathe out for 3 to 6 seconds. This will slow down your rate of breathing.

Do stretches, release tension from your body by stretching all the muscles in your body, especially in your neck, back and shoulders where we keep a lot of tension. If you can, get someone to massage you in order to release all the stress. Light a candle or some incense. Activating senses that you haven't used throughout the day will interrupt your thought patterns and get you thinking about other things besides work.

Do some light exercise such as yoga, pilates or other body weight exercises. You'll release stress and tire yourself out putting your body in it's automatic relaxation mode.

Slow down your thinking. You might not realize it but your mind will be racing after a hard days work. Sit or lie down somewhere quiet and repeat a short mantra to yourself, maybe something like 'I am relaxing'. Say it to yourself every few second in a calm and relaxed voice.