I get immobilized when I’m stressed. Take work for example. It starts off with a simple tasks that I put off which after a while, pile up on my to-do list.

My brain tells me that I could all do these tasks in one go but when I sit down to actually do it, I just can ‘t bring myself to do any substantial work. I end up sitting in front of my laptop but using my phone for hours.

It’s been affecting my weekends, where instead of resting, I have to bring in work that I should’ve done during the work week. I feel like I can’t do my backlogged tasks because it feels like I’m stealing rest from myself if that makes sense. Unrestful weekends leak into weekdays, where I feel a sense that I’m being overworked.

My mind is in conflict with thoughts of “you should’ve finished this before” and “you deserve to rest.” Whenever I feel like the latter, I am guilted by the former.

At the end of the day, I end up not accomplishing anything and all I feel is shame, guilt, and a sense of inadequacy.

How do you get out of these situations? If there’s a way to reset myself, how do I not feel guilty about the time I use to do so?