Focus on active rest

Active rest means disconnecting from a focused task and getting active. Even if it tires you, it still counts as rest for your brain. “The long walk while listening to a podcast may deliver more of a recharge and reset than being on the sofa watching ‘The Great British Bake Off,’” Pang says.

Get a hobby.

Turning your attention to a hobby — painting, drumming, ceramics, bird- watching — is also a form of rest. Having a serious hobby that you’re excited about also promotes the release of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone in your brain.

Make a “today” list.

To-do lists are often packed with endless tasks, and just looking at them can be exhausting and demoralizing. Robert Poynton, author of the book Do Pause: You Are Not a To Do List, suggests making a “today” list with just the essential tasks you can reasonably complete today, such as doing laundry, making dinner and paying your utility bill. Once you’ve done the today list, then you can create time for rest.

For other items on your to-do list, try Worklife from Resources for Living. This program can help you find resources for everyday life, including child care, pet sitters, housecleaners  and more.

Practice “micro” pauses.

Microbreaks have been shown to boost energy and reduce fatigue. Try doing a stretching exercise before you start your workday. Take three deep breaths at stoplights. Do something active, such as taking the stairs, to get your heart rate up for 90 seconds. Find what works for you.

Take tech breaks.

Our brains spend a surprising amount of energy preparing for the arrival of the next text, notification, “like” or email. Taking a break from electronic devices can provide relief from the stress of constant connection. Shutting down laptops and phones for a half an hour or more can allow the brain to rest.

Track where your time goes.

Many people don’t really know how they spend their time. Celeste Headlee, author of the book Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, suggests jotting down what you’ve been doing every half hour. After a week or two, clear patterns will emerge. Once you identify how many potentially free hours a day you could have, plan for how you want to use this uncommitted time.

Take regular vacations.

Research suggests the benefits of taking time off peak around the eighth day and that much of a vacation’s or staycation’s mental health benefit comes from the days leading up to it. Take time away from work when you can to give your brain a rest. A few days away may be all you need.