Do you find it difficult to switch off “work mode”? Do thoughts of work invade your evenings and weekends or keep you awake at night?

Personally, when I’m juggling a lot—whether it’s work-related or tasks at home—it often keeps me up. I mentally compile my to-do list, which can build up stress and anxiety about completing everything.

I understand the importance of allowing myself to rest, but sometimes my brain refuses to switch off, leading me to ruminate over what I “should” be doing instead of resting.

So, how can we signal our brains to allow for rest? Here are a few strategies that have helped me.

Write it Down

If, like me, you find yourself ruminating on your to-do list, try putting it down on paper or using an app like AnyList. When assisting my parents with moving into assisted living and preparing their house for sale, I created a categorized list by urgency. For work projects, I use my calendar app to schedule tasks. Seeing dedicated time slots for tasks eases my anxiety, knowing I can address them during work hours without stress.

Reframe the Self Talk

Another effective strategy is changing that inner dialogue.

You may have noticed that I use my name when reframing my self-talk. I can’t quite explain why, but it seems to have a greater impact on me—it’s like how a friend might lift me up.

Read a Book

One of my favorite ways to relax and quiet my mind is by immersing myself in a good book. Recently, I joined a book club to steer myself toward more pleasure reading rather than always focusing on business books. The club removes the decision fatigue of choosing what to read next. Knowing I have a group to discuss the book with afterward helps me engage more deeply, making it easier to set work thoughts aside.

Meditate

Meditation is another great strategy for calming those inner thoughts. I find guided meditation apps particularly helpful for calming the noise in my mind and focusing on the meditation’s guidance.

I hope you found these strategies helpful. Do me a favor; if you try any of them, leave a comment to let me know how they worked for you.

Wishing you the best!