Why We Must Learn How To Switch Off

Being able to switch off when you have finished work for the day it’s a necessary skill.

With your never ending to do list, ever-growing responsibilities and that ever present nagging feeling that there is something we should be doing, we must improve this essential mental wellbeing skill to avoid burnout.

That classic phrase “I’ll just…“ goes around in our mind, preventing us from taking essential rest.

We are desperate to get as much done as possible, so that ironically we can rest, guilt free, knowing there’s nothing more to do, nowhere to be and no one that needs us.

But herein lies the problem. We know that we will never reach that point. So instead, we must find a way to put it down, switch off and truly restore our body, mind and soul.

So the core of the problem here is an internal one rather than an external one. We must learn how to intentionally rest, to allow ourselves to rest, and give full permission to ourselves to stop.

And only then will we feel what switching off truly feels like.

Simple Practices To Try

Here are some simple, mindfulness based practices to try to reach that peaceful place.

1️⃣ You know yourself better than anyone else. Listen to your body more closely to hear its cues. It will tell you how close you are to needing a rest. Practice closing your eyes feeling in to your whole body, perhaps scanning from head to toe to really tap in to your physical sensations. This really is the key to knowing where you are on that scale of healthy to burnout so you can catch it before you are so desperate for rest that you have done damage to your body and mind.

2️⃣ Contemplate why it is important for you to rest. How do you feel when you’ve had enough rest? How do you feel when you’ve not had enough rest? Know the difference in your body, in your mind, in your behaviour to yourself and others. Building this detailed picture will increase your awareness around the importance of taking rest and will also remind you of the consequence if you don’t.

3️⃣ And lastly, get clear on what rest looks like to you. Know the specifics of where you rest, how you rest, when you rest and even with who you might rest. Visualise these spaces in which you rest, Close your eyes, see yourself resting in these places at those times, so you’re very clear about the possibility of rest. Seeing these moments, clearly will make it easier to access them when you feel you need to.

Embodying these practices can take time, because we are so habitual with our desire and need to keep going “just one more thing”, “just one more thing”.

So be kind to yourself in this process and know that you are absolutely worth the effort to keep yourself mentally and physically well.

You might also like to consider the words of Dr. Samantha Boardman, a renowned positive psychologist, who says,

“It’s not about having time, it’s about making time and respecting your need to have time away from work.”

further resources on the importance of switching off

"Why We Sleep"

A compelling book by Matthew Walker that explores the crucial role sleep plays in our lives. Here’s a review of it on The Guardian.

"The Science of Happiness"

This podcast provides insights into practical, research-backed methods to improve your well-being.

Written by Kate Greenslade

Click here to find out how Kate can help you to switch off, to be more in charge of your thoughts and feelings, and to feel grounded and at ease.