How do you unwind after work? If you just angrily vent your workday frustrations or drown them in beer, you might not be able to fully clock out--though sometimes mixing activities, like sharing a laugh with friends over dinner and wine, just might do the trick quite nicely. SimplyHired surveyed more than 1,000 workers and found that those who tend to do the following things after work to relax on average score higher for job satisfaction: volunteer, talk to someone, play cards, meditate, exercise, take a break from the internet and color. Interestingly, respondents who say they smoke cigarettes and use recreational drugs on average score above the 50th percentile for job satisfaction. Related: The happiness factor in job satisfaction For those who say they relax by venting about the workday, playing video games or drinking alcohol, on average they score below the 50th percentile. However, the survey results do not mention whether respondents could choose multiple responses, so higher job satisfaction could be correlated with a mixture of post-work relaxation activities--such as talking to friends over dinner and wine. Still, it's worth noting that on average, respondents who say they drink alcohol or use recreational drugs to wind down also report higher levels of job stress. "The link between stress and alcohol has been a long-researched topic, with numerous findings showing that drinking to relax compounds the problem, only leading to medical and psychological problems and an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder," SimplyHired writes. People who vent about their workday on average score the highest average for job stress, according to the survey. "While talking about your feelings and problems is cathartic and necessary, negatively venting about work can spark drama and even make the person feel worse," SimplyHired writes. "Straying from venting doesn't mean employees have to be stuck with unhappy feelings, though. Writing their feelings down, taking a break to get some fresh air, or seeking counsel from a professional are all healthier and more effective ways to deal with stress." Respondents who prepare for the next workday while on the clock while physically turning off work once off the clock on average score higher in both job satisfaction and stress. Those activities including disabling work-related alerts and notifications, making a to-do list for the next day, reviewing their work calendar, checking in with colleagues before leaving work and tidying up the workspace. Many respondents say they have a hard time relaxing after work no matter what--with millennials saying this the most. While 58 percent of baby boomers report transitioning from work to home at the end of the day without difficulty, only 36.2 percent of millennials say the same. Overall, 55.1 percent of American workers say they typically have less time to relax after work than they need. They report having just 2.2 hours of relaxation time, on average, between leaving work and going to bed, excluding time spent on chores or child care. "When the mere two hours of relaxation doesn't completely counterbalance job stress and lack of satisfaction, it may be time to find a more fulfilling position," SimplyHired writes. Read more: |

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