We’ve all had them. The tough days. The ones that leave you feeling drained, frazzled, and covered in a kind of sticky, invisible emotional goo. You walk in your front door, and it feels like you’ve just come home from a battle, carrying all the stress and frustration with you.
Your first instinct might be to collapse on the couch and scroll through your phone, numbing out until bedtime. But this often leaves you feeling even more disconnected and agitated.
A tough day doesn’t have to ruin your entire night. You have the power to create a gentle “reset button”—a transition that helps you wash away the day’s chaos and reclaim your evening for peace and comfort.
This isn’t a to-do list to add to your exhaustion. It is a permission slip to be incredibly kind to yourself. Here are 10 simple things to do to feel okay again.
1. Perform a “Costume Change.” The moment you get home, take off the clothes you wore to face the world and change into your absolute softest, most comfortable loungewear.
2. Take a “Warm Water” Reset. A warm shower or bath is more than just getting clean; it’s a powerful ritual of symbolically and literally washing the day’s stress and negative energy off of you and letting it go down the drain.
3. Make a “Comfort” in a Mug. Brew a warm, soothing, non-caffeinated beverage like chamomile tea, peppermint tea, or a rich cup of hot cocoa. Holding a warm mug is instantly grounding.
4. Listen to a “Familiar” Playlist. Put on a playlist of songs that feel like an old, trusted friend. Now is not the time for discovering new music; it’s time for the guaranteed comfort of the familiar.
5. Do a 5-Minute “Rant” Journal. Grab a notebook and for five minutes, write down every single frustrating, annoying, and unfair thing that happened today. Get it all out of your head and onto the page so you can let it go.
6. Eat a Simple, Nourishing Meal. On a tough day, your body craves comfort and nourishment, not a complicated recipe. Opt for something simple, warm, and easy, like a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, a simple bowl of pasta, or some scrambled eggs on toast.
7. Watch Your “Happy” Show. Put on an episode of that one TV show that is your guaranteed comfort-watch. A low-stakes, familiar sitcom is perfect for giving your tired brain a gentle, happy distraction.
8. Do the “Legs Up the Wall” Pose. The simplest and most restorative yoga pose there is. Just lie on the floor and rest your legs up against a wall for 10 minutes. It’s incredibly calming for a frazzled nervous system.
9. Tidy Just One Small Space. Don’t try to clean the whole house. Just clear off your coffee table or your nightstand. Creating one small pocket of external order can make your internal world feel significantly calmer and more in control.
10. Connect with a “Safe” Person or Pet. Send a quick text to your most supportive friend, call your mom, or just spend 10 minutes giving your pet some quality cuddles. A simple dose of pure, uncomplicated love is powerful medicine.
A tough day is just that—a day. It does not have to define your night, and it certainly does not have to define your tomorrow. You made it through.
Be incredibly gentle with yourself this evening. You’ve done enough. Now, it’s time to rest.