My 5 to 9

After my 9 to 5.

Whether you’re working or undertaking an internship, you’d know how mentally exhausting a day at the office can be. Like, my brain just checks out once it hits 5pm. So, I’ve come to appreciate a good downtime routine because of this and trust me, I take my downtime routine very seriously – mostly because I know I deserve it; mostly to avoid turning into a monster.

So, here’s how I usually do my 5 to 9.

First things first, an “everything shower”. If you haven’t been on TikTok as much as I have (guilty!), an everything shower, as the name suggests, is when you commit to doing everything in your cleansing routine from haircare to skincare and everything else in between to get that fresh-out-of-the-shower feel.

More than just a way to make myself feel clean after a long day in the office and in packed trams, it’s an opportunity to unwind and to turn my mind away from uni and work stuff. 

A hearty meal is another crucial element in my 5 to 9. I allow myself a break from cooking on days I have my internship (because let’s be real, I can’t be bothered to do the dishes) and treat myself to Uber Eats instead. The go-to is Malaysian food, of course, because for some reason, I feel the most homesick after spending time in the office but also because Malaysian food just makes me 100 times happier.

Unless it’s urgent, I try not to do any studying after work to give my brain some rest for the day. I’ve been using my brain for the past 8 hours, I think it deserves a little bit of rest, so I can use it again for classes the next day. This isn’t always easy to do, though. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel guilty for taking a break. I have to remind myself that taking some time off is crucial for my mental and physical wellbeing and that working myself too much won’t do me any good either. 

So, to stop myself from thinking about this guilt, I bury myself in books, TV shows, and sometimes, arts and crafts. I’m currently binging on Ugly Betty – it’s hilarious!

And to close it off, an early night, so I can wake up the next day feeling fresh and revitalised. 

That’s pretty much my 5 to 9. I know it’s not a lot, but I guess, that’s the point!