Why You Can’t Relax—Even When You’re Off the Clock

You finally sit down. No meetings, no emails, nothing on the to-do list. Technically, the day is done. But instead of feeling calm, your mind is racing. Your chest feels tight. There’s a sense that you should be doing something. Anything.

Sound familiar?

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re simply stuck in high-functioning survival mode—and your nervous system hasn’t gotten the memo that you’re safe to slow down.

For many high-achieving women, rest can feel... unsafe. When your success has always been tied to productivity, stillness starts to look like failure. You’ve been praised for pushing through, rewarded for overextending, and conditioned to equate your value with your output.

And when we’ve internalized the idea that worth only comes from doing—not being—any pause feels like a threat. That feeling isn’t weakness. It’s dysregulation.

In therapy, we’ll look at what’s underneath this response:

• Why your body and mind resist rest—even when you desperately want it

• How past experiences and high-pressure environments have wired your nervous system to stay on alert

• How to redefine rest as something earned, not avoided

• Tools to manage overthinking, release guilt, and soften the voice of your inner critic

You can achieve rest without having to choose between ambition and peace. In therapy I invite you to find a sustainable version of success—one that doesn’t cost your well-being. And yes, even affords you the opportunity to “rot” without guilt!