Work. Let’s be honest here – most people would much rather they didn’t have to do it.

Spending time at work can be a pretty tiring affair and many individuals find it difficult to wind down when they arrive home at night.

Lying down and doing absolutely nothing can often be fairly appealing, although that results in people missing out on the fun things in life.

If you have just had a tough day at work, or are likely to have one in the future, read on as we look at some of the best ways to spend your downtime.

Play free games

Mobile devices have become the Filofaxes of the 21st century, with most people struggling to be parted from their smartphones for any great length of time.

Playing games like free slots has become a hugely popular form of entertainment over the past few years, providing people with an ideal form of relaxation after a tough day at work.

They offer a fun way to recreate the thrill of visiting a Las Vegas casino, without ever needing to dip into your hard-earned cash.

Other social games like Pirate Kings and Candy Crush have also become global hits, racking up millions of players since they were first launched.

Indulge in your hobby

Indulging in hobbies might sound a bit old fashioned, but they are an excellent way to spend a few hours after a hard day at work.

Hobbies can immerse you into another world, helping you forget about the stresses and strains of work and leaving you feeling refreshed for the following day.

All manner of activities fall into the hobby category including painting, quizzes, yoga, cooking, video gaming and many more.

If you find a hobby that you are passionate about, it will undoubtedly provide you with the release you need away from the working environment.

Take a bath

While this one involves the aforementioned lying down and doing nothing, taking a bath is unquestionably one of the best ways to relax.

The healing powers of a nice hot bath filled with bubbles should not be underestimated and is well worth squeezing into your schedule at least once a week.

Lighting some scented candles adds to the ambience, while pouring yourself a nice glass of wine can take things to another level.

Spending some ‘me-time’ locked away in the bathroom for an hour or so is a fabulous way to escape from the worries of work.

Reading books

Studies have shown that reading can help to reduce stress, although it is worth noting that it needs to be the right kind of reading.

Spending a couple of hours ploughing through emails is unlikely to be relaxing, but immersing yourself into a good book can have the opposite effect.

Whether you are into fact or fiction, romantic novels or autobiographies, reading helps your mind relax and positively impacts your stress levels.

Many people still use reading as a way to round off their day when they go to bed. It’s a splendid way to end the day!

Movie night

The growth of cable television and live streaming companies have brought a wealth of exciting content into households across the world.

Signing up for services like Netflix and Amazon Prime means that people no longer have to head down to the local video shop to rent out a movie.

If films take your fancy, every night can be movie night, giving you the opportunity to switch off after a tough day at work.

With drama series, comedy specials and documentaries amongst the other options, it is easy to see why these services have become so popular.

Watching sports

Flick through the television channels on any evening throughout the week and you are certain to stumble across some live sport.

From soccer to horse racing and more, relaxing on the settee with some drinks and nibbles to watch live sport is excellent fun.

Many people love to wager on the action, adding more thrills into watching the world’s top sports stars strut their stuff.

If you happen to have a partner who doesn’t like sport, alternate between this and movie night to keep everyone happy.

Listening to music

People of a certain age will fondly remember the days when listening to music meant firing up a record player or switching on the radio.

Things have progressed massively since then, with modern technology opening up a world of possibilities when it comes to music.

Streaming services such as Spotify have become a hobby in their own right, with people spending time building up playlists across their favourite genres.

Whether you like to pump up the volume or listen quietly through headphones, music has the power to be truly uplifting.