What do social workers and shawarma joints have in common?

They’re both open late, offer comfort, and leave an impression with you that lasts through the week.

Many clinic jobs nowadays (at least the ones I know about) require therapists to work one or two evenings a week. That means working until 9 or 10pm, and getting home really really late. And for those of us who work two or more jobs, that means coming home late more nights than not.  Private practice therapists have more flexibility, but often choose to work late because that’s when their clients can come.

When I get home on a late night, I have one job: unwind and get to bed.

How do I unwind? I’ll admit, I have trouble with this. After a whole day of seeing clients, the last thing I want to do is unwind quickly. I want to take my time unwinding. But I also want to go to sleep at a half-normal time.

So I’ve begun to compile a list of go-to unwinding activities that work in a pinch. Here are some of them:

Some of these work better than others, and what I do will of course depend on my mood.

But the reason that I’m writing this is...I want to hear your suggestions! What do you do to unwind? Hit the comments and let me know. No idea too small or too weird!

Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G maintains a private practice in Brooklyn, NY, and Washington Heights, NYC, with specialties in addictions and anxiety. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Contact: (530) 334-6882 or shimmyfeintuch@gmail.com. 

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