Redominatelife

How I Know When to Unplug: Listening to the Disconnect Between Mind and Body

There’s a point in my day when I can feel the split. My body is begging for rest, my thoughts are scattered, and sleep keeps flashing like a stubborn pop-up I keep clicking “Remind me later” on. That’s when I know: it’s time to unplug.

The signs are subtle at first. I’ll be sitting in front of something I need to finish—writing, editing, planning—and my body starts to drag. Not physically tired like after a workout, but more like it’s slowly detaching from my focus. My brain keeps tossing sleep signals in the background like gentle waves. But instead of listening, I stall. I scroll, I pace, I tell myself “Just ten more minutes.” The procrastination of rest is real.

But I’ve learned to spot it early now—when my thoughts and body stop walking in sync. That’s my cue.

One thing that works for me, oddly enough, is playing a quick NBA 2K game. It sounds counterproductive, but hear me out. I’ll set an alarm—just enough time to shut everything down properly—and load up a quick game. That 2K match becomes a small but focused challenge. My mind zones in, my hands are busy, and by the end of it, the last bit of resistance fades. I’ve released enough tension that sleep feels like the next natural move. And when I finally lay down, my body thanks me.

It’s not about strict routines for me. It’s about recognizing the gap—the moment when my energy and thoughts aren’t syncing—and choosing to close that gap before it stretches me too thin.

Rest isn’t just a break. It’s a reset. And sometimes, it starts with just an alarm and a controller.

Until next time.

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