Out of Office—And Out of Overthinking
Why Rest Isn’t Real Unless Your Mind Unplugs Too
Kamy Charles
5/20/20251 min read
Let’s Be Honest—Logging Off Doesn’t Always Mean Shutting Down
How many times have you said “I’m off” but still:
Replayed a tough conversation from last week
Mentally drafted an email response
Organized your Monday task list in your head
Opened Slack “just to check”
Scrolled LinkedIn for inspiration that turned into comparison?
This is the quiet epidemic of mental overworking.
And it’s just as draining as physical burnout—if not more.
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The Problem Isn’t Just Busyness. It’s Internalized Productivity
Many high-achievers are stuck in performative rest—off the clock, but still on mentally.
Why?
Because we’re taught that thinking ahead = responsibility.
But it often turns into restless rumination that keeps your nervous system on edge.
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3 Ways to Truly Disconnect (Without Guilt)
1. Practice “Thought Logging Off”
Write down everything swirling in your head. Get it on paper. Then leave it there until tomorrow.
2. Reframe Rest as Readiness
Remind yourself: Today’s stillness is fueling tomorrow’s clarity.
3. Replace Mental Work With Sensory Joy
Cook a meal. Take a walk. Listen to music with zero purpose. Let your brain shift from strategy to stillness.
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Out of Office Should Also Mean Out of Overwhelm
True recovery means not just freeing your schedule—but freeing your mind.
Give yourself a full system reboot:
No agendas
No urgency
No self-imposed deadlines
Just rest. Just presence. Just you.
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Final Thought: Your Time Off Doesn’t Need to Be Earned—It Needs to Be Honored
Don’t spend your day off mentally working for free.