Job stress is one of the biggest problems that many people face today. Though it’s bad enough at work, the biggest problem with work-related stress is that it almost always comes home with you at the end of the day. If you’re bringing the troubles of the office home at night, you’re practically making yourself a slave to your job, even when you aren’t there. Fortunately, there are some great ways to solve this problem. Here are four of the best methods for relaxing, letting go of job-related stress and reclaiming your time at home for yourself.

1. Exercise After Work

If you’re stressed out at the end of your work day, a great way to let it go is to have a vigorous workout once you’ve left your job. Working out is one of the most effective ways to relieve stress by letting it out in a constructive way. Frequent exercise also makes you less prone to getting stressed out easily, which may help you manage your stress levels during the work day as well. If you can, it’s best to go straight to the gym from work. Then, once you’ve worked your stress out through exercise, you can return to your home to begin the rest of your evening.

2. Try Meditating

Despite all of the nonsensical claims made about it by new-age proponents, meditation does have some very objective benefits when it comes to alleviating stress and clearing the mind. If you’re dealing with an amount of stress at work that really feels like it’s burying you even after you leave the office, meditation may be perfect for you.

Meditating for 10-15 minutes as soon as you get home will not only give your mind a break from the events of your work day, but also help your body to relax and clear itself of stress hormones. As a result, you’ll be able to go about the rest of your day more calmly.

3. Get a Home Spa

When it comes to relaxing your body, few things are as effective as climbing into a heated spa at the end of the day. Spas in Reno or wherever you may live are a bit of an investment, but their ability to ease your stress makes them more than worth it. Spas are also great for relieving physical soreness, making them perfect for pairing with a regimen of vigorous exercise.

4. Go out with Friends

One of the worst things you can do for your stress levels at the end of the day is to give yourself time to sit around and think about work. If you want to get rid of stress, you should instead try to go spend time with friends or family members who will help get your mind off of your work-related worries. Socializing is a great way to relax while at the same time getting to see more of the people you love. Though you probably won’t be able to go out with friends every night of the week, try to arrange at least one night each week for you and some close friends to spend time together eating dinner or engaging in some other activity.

These are just some of the dozens of ways that you can handle your job-related stress and make it possible for yourself to relax at the end of the day. Since everyone is different when it comes to stress reactions, it’s important that you find a method or combination of methods that best suits you. Try out some of these different methods, and before long you’ll notice that your work life isn’t interfering with the time you spend outside of the office.