4 Ways to Recover After a Busy Week

Counting down the hours until Friday at 5 o'clock rolls around is common among Americans young and old. Whether your week is filled with meetings and presentations, errands and childcare, manual labor and outdoor activities, or perhaps all of these things, there's no better feeling than that first moment of freedom. However, if you're feeling sore and tense after a long and busy week, your two days of relaxation won't feel quite as nice.

Before you kick back and enjoy a few of your favorite things this weekend, consider these simple and easy ways to recover:

1. Disconnect
At the end of a grueling week, both your body and your mind will be feeling the effects. As such, it's important to focus on both the physical and the mental. A great place to start when it comes to recovering is to unplug. Turn off televisions and computers, silence your phone and that email ding and take a few deep breathes to put some distance between any work or social obligations. Turn off all excess or unnecessary noise such as radios, ring tones, music and news. All of these are distractions and sound that fill our day and clutter our thoughts. Even just a few moments of silence after a hectic week can have a big difference.

This is a good time to take a walk, practice yoga, read a book or simply lay down. Light physical activity, a hot bath or shower and an outfit change into comfortable clothes can all also help you to relax and unwind. All of these things allow you to step back and clear your mind, gather your thoughts and gain a sense of clarity.

It's important to take time to unwind after a long week.

2. Release Tension
Do your neck and shoulders ever feel tight or sore at the end of the week? Though you may not even recognize, work and family stress can turn to tension that starts to build up in your muscles. While this can be uncomfortable, there is an easy and effective way to relieve that tension. Heat therapy can help to reduce discomfort and soothe any tightness you may feel.

Heating pads are a great way to recover with heat therapy at the end of a long week. For example, with the Sunbeam® Renue® Tension Relieving Heat Therapy, you'll get the soothing comfort of nature's original pain reliever. This product is designed specifically for the neck and shoulder region, bringing the therapeutic heat right to where you need it most. Outlined with weighted beads and equipped with an adjustable metal closing clip, it even stays in place so you can go about your afternoon hands-free, while still reaping the benefits of heat therapy. Made of velveteen, this heating pad is so comfortable you'll never want to take it off. It's the best way to recover after a long day or week.

Heat therapy can help you recover after a long week.

3. Take Care of Your Body
It's easy to get caught up in the everyday rush of life and forget to slow down to really nurture your body. Getting enough rest, stretching, engaging in physical activity and eating right are all important for your health and well being. When you start to feel your muscles and joints getting sore or achy, consider the power of heat therapy. Non-invasive, accessible and effective, heat therapy can help to bring comfort to various areas of the body.

For a heating pad that can cover whatever area needs the most attention at the moment, take advantage of the Sunbeam® MicroPlush Body-Shaped Heating Pad. Not only does it give off even and consistent therapeutic heat thanks to advanced Extra Sensing Power™ technology, it has flexible wiring and a shape that conforms to your body, helping to enhance comfort. No matter which of the five heat settings you choose, heat is maintained to help relax and comfort you. It even offers a moist heat option for stubborn knots, pain and tension that would benefit from heat that deeply penetrates. Take care of your body and begin to recover with the help of heat therapy.

4. Do What You Enjoy
At the end of the day, the best way to unwind and rid of tension and stress is to do what you love. It's likely that there are a number of obligations required of you during the week - some of which you may not always enjoy. From bills and chores to meetings and scheduling, there are things that must be done. That is why it's important to fill your down time with people, places and activities that bring you joy and happiness.

Spend your days off or free afternoons with friends and loved ones, engaging in your favorite hobbies, listening to music or trying new foods.