You’ve just clocked out of your ninth Zoom meeting, packed lunches for tomorrow, and somehow managed to answer 47 unread texts (most of them from your mom’s group chat). Your brain feels like a browser with 82 tabs open, and your shoulders? Let’s just say they’re doing their best impression of a coat hanger.
Hey, superwoman. I see you. The invisible weight of deadlines, school pickups, and “did I pay the electric bill?” humming in the back of your mind. The way you’re always “on”—for your job, your kids, your partner, your dog who’s side-eyeing you for forgetting his dental chew.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to “get everything done” before you’re allowed to exhale. And you definitely don’t have to apologize for needing space to refill your cup.
Let’s reclaim those precious hours between work and bedtime. Because you deserve more than surviving—you deserve to thrive.
The 10-Minute Sensory Reset
Try this: Before you walk in the door, pause. Sit in your car (or on the porch, or in the bathroom if that’s your only quiet zone). Close your eyes and:
- Name 3 things you hear (birds, the AC hum, your cat judging you).
- Name 2 things you smell (coffee, your lavender hand sanitizer).
- Take 1 deep breath that starts in your toes and sighs out like you’re deflating a balloon.
Why it works: It’s a mini meditation that drags your brain out of “task mode” and into your body.
Create a “Transition Ritual” (That’s Fancy for “Signal the Day is Done”)
Try this: Pick one small act to mark the shift from “work you” to “home you”:
- Light a candle with a scent that doesn’t scream “baby wipes.”
- Change into the pants—you know, the ones with the stretched-out waistband and zero regrets.
- Play a song that instantly lifts your mood (“Dancing Queen” or Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” highly recommended).
Why it works: Rituals tell your nervous system, “We’re safe now. You can relax.”
Get Curious About Your Hands
Try this: Do something tactile that requires just enough focus to mute mental noise:
- Fold laundry (mindfully! Pretend you’re a hotel concierge making perfect creases).
- Repot a plant. Get dirt under your nails. Pretend you’re the CEO of Urban Jungle.
- Bake something simple—banana bread counts as therapy.
Why it works: Physical tasks anchor you in the present. Plus, you’ll have fewer laundry avalanches.
The “Not-So-Productive” Walk
Try this: Walk around the block—without a podcast, phone, or step counter. Let your mind wander. Notice:
- The way the light hits the trees.
- The neighbor’s ridiculous garden gnome collection.
- How your body feels when it’s not rushing.
Why it works: Nature doesn’t care about your inbox. It’s the ultimate humbling therapy.
Borrow a Kid’s Superpower: Play
Try this: Do something pointlessly joyful for 15 minutes:
- Blow bubbles in the backyard.
- Doodle with neon markers.
- Have a living room dance party to the Encanto soundtrack (we don’t talk about Bruno… but we do shimmy).
Why it works: Play isn’t just for kids—it’s a rebellion against adulthood’s never-ending to-do list.
But What If I “Don’t Have Time”?
Let’s flip the script: You’re not taking time—you’re investing it. A 10-minute reset means fewer nights spent snapping at your partner or staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m.
Start small: Try just ONE of these for a week. Notice how even tiny pockets of “unplugged” time make the chaos feel… softer.
A Love Note to the Woman Reading This:
You are so much more than your productivity. Your worth isn’t tied to how much you cross off a list. And it’s okay if “unplugging” feels awkward at first—like a stiff new pair of jeans.
Some days, you’ll nail it. Other days, you’ll scroll Instagram for an hour and eat cereal for dinner. Both are okay. Progress, not perfection, love.
