After I finish a long day filled with meetings, deadlines, and way too much screen time, I find it hard to switch off or even refocus if I have more to do later. It’s like my mind stays stuck in “go” mode, and I can't truly relax or concentrate on anything else properly. I’m not talking about full-blown burnout, but that drained feeling where your body is tired, but your brain is still spinning with tasks, ideas, and notifications.
I’m curious how others handle this. Do you have routines or tricks to mentally step away from work and then get back into a focused state when needed? I’m not looking for typical "go for a walk" type of stuff unless it really works for you in a specific way. I’d love to hear some practical examples that genuinely help you calm down and reset your brain.
That “wired but tired” state you mentioned is something I totally get. For me, what helps most is shifting the kind of mental input I’m dealing with. After hours of thinking analytically, I usually need something that doesn’t require decision-making. I started using an app recently that combines breathing prompts with subtle soundscapes and short voice reflections. It’s kind of like guided rest but not in a “self-help” preachy way. The voice is neutral, the sounds are ambient, and it doesn’t try to be inspirational. Just quiet, simple presence. It surprisingly helps reframe my headspace in under 10 minutes. If anyone's curious, you can check out this liven app review for a more detailed breakdown. I don’t use it daily, but when my brain feels like it’s overloaded with “open tabs,” this method works better for me than silence or music alone. Also, I avoid jumping from screen to screen. I’ve found that even switching to my phone after a workday keeps me stuck in that distracted rhythm. So I keep the lights low, don’t talk to anyone for a bit, and just let my thoughts settle before I engage with anything else.