Thu Sep 26 12:55:00 UTC 2024: ## Stop Thinking About Work on Weekends: Psychologist Shares Tips for True Relaxation

**Feeling the Sunday Scaries? You’re not alone. Many of us struggle to truly disconnect from work over the weekend, leaving us feeling stressed and depleted.** Psychologist and professional counselor, Emma Becker, has a solution. Drawing from her years of experience helping clients overcome work-related anxieties, she offers a range of practical strategies for achieving a genuinely relaxing weekend.

**Becker emphasizes that negative thoughts are the root of weekend work worries. She recommends a four-step approach to challenge those thoughts:**

1. **Projecting:** Write down the negative thought.
2. **Questioning:** Is there evidence to support it?
3. **Contradicting:** Is there evidence to contradict it?
4. **Reframing:** Reframe the negative thought into a positive one.

**Hobbies can also be powerful distractors. Becker suggests finding an engaging activity that requires your focus and attention.** Andrew, one of Becker’s clients, found solace in birdwatching, while others might find solace in reading, gardening, or creative pursuits.

**Mindfulness is another crucial tool for disconnecting from work. Becker recommends practicing mindful reading, focusing on the present moment through sensory details.** Erika, a bookworm, found success in this technique by setting the scene, engaging her senses, and reflecting on the reading experience.

**Trying something entirely new can also be a potent way to divert your attention away from work.** Becker suggests exploring a new hobby, attending a unique event, or learning a new skill. She even encourages embracing the unexpected and trying something out of your comfort zone, like joining a medieval sword-fighting club or taking a Latin class.

**Games, both digital and analog, can offer an immersive experience and provide a welcome escape from work-related thoughts.** Multiplayer games can also foster social interaction and provide a refreshing change from work solitude.

**For those who work from home, Becker emphasizes the importance of creating a designated workspace to physically separate work from personal time.** This separation helps to solidify boundaries and minimize the temptation to check emails or engage in work-related tasks during leisure time.

**Finally, Becker stresses the importance of logging out of workplace communication tools during the weekend.** “Your weekends are your official days off,” she reminds us. “You are not obliged to respond to emails and messages during this time.”

**By incorporating these strategies into your weekend routine, you can finally achieve a truly relaxing and rejuvenating break from work.** Remember, taking time for yourself is essential for both your mental and physical well-being.

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