You finally have a day off… so why do you feel more anxious than when you were working?
This is sometimes called the relaxation paradox. When you stop focusing on a task, your brain doesn’t turn off. It shifts into what scientists call your default mode network.
This network is active during rest and mind-wandering. And under stress, it likes to replay the past or scan for future problems.
That’s why “doing nothing” can feel uncomfortable. and why real mental rest isn’t about being empty, it’s having gentle focus.
So don’t force stillness. Just give your brain something small and low-stakes to do, so it doesn’t have to focus on any worry. You got this.
