After a long day of working from home, many of us close our laptops and collapse onto the couch with our phone in hand.

Maybe we tell ourselves we'll scroll social media for “just a few minutes.” Or watch one episode of a show to finally disconnect from the mental load of the day.

And honestly? Sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

After spending hours caring for others, making decisions, multitasking, and solving problems, our nervous system naturally craves relief—something easy, something comforting, something that asks very little of us.

But when I work with healthcare professionals on stress and energy management, I often ask one simple question:

Does the way you’re resting actually help you recover?

In other words, does it truly help recharge your batteries?

Because there’s a difference between temporarily disconnecting from stress and genuinely replenishing yourself. And sometimes, the two can look very similar on the surface.

For example, scrolling social media for ten minutes may feel relaxing in the moment. But ninety minutes later, you might notice you're feeling more overstimulated, anxious, disconnected, or frustrated that you've lost time that could have been spent on something more meaningful.

That doesn’t mean social media is “bad.” It simply means that not all forms of rest and recovery restore us equally.

The Different Types of Recovery

True recovery often happens on several levels.

Physical Recovery

Physical recovery helps the body release tension and restore energy. This can include:

Quality sleep
Stretching
Physical activity
Deep breathing
Rest without constant stimulation
These practices help calm the nervous system and support overall wellbeing.

Mental Recovery

Mental recovery helps quiet cognitive overload and give the brain a break from constant demands.

Examples include:

Spending time in nature
Journaling
Reading
Mindfulness practices
Doing one thing at a time instead of multitasking
Creating moments of mental spaciousness can help us feel calmer and more focused.

Emotional Recovery

Emotional recovery helps us feel supported, connected, and understood.

This might come from:

Meaningful conversations
Laughter
Self-compassion
Therapy or coaching
Creative expression
Spending time with people we care about
When our emotional needs are met, we often feel more resilient and grounded.

Recovery That Reconnects Us to Ourselves

There is also a deeper kind of recovery—one that reconnects us with joy, purpose, and meaning.

This might involve:

Music
Hobbies
Spiritual practices
Play
Creativity
Appreciating beauty in everyday life
These are the moments when we stop focusing on productivity and simply experience life.

Recovery Is Personal

What replenishes one person may not replenish another.

This isn't about never watching television again or deleting social media from your phone. It’s about becoming more intentional and paying attention to how different activities leave you feeling afterward.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel calmer?
Do I feel clearer?
Do I feel more connected to myself?
Do I feel energized or restored?
Or does the activity leave you feeling:

Numb?
Overstimulated?
Restless?
Emotionally drained?
That awareness matters.

When we begin noticing what genuinely replenishes us—not just what distracts or numbs us—we can make more intentional choices about how we spend our time outside of work.

Not from a place of judgment, but from a desire to support ourselves more deeply.

Two Reflections to Explore This Week

? Notice How You Feel After Different Forms of Rest

Don't just focus on how relaxing an activity feels in the moment. Pay attention to how you feel afterward.

Which activities leave you feeling calmer, more grounded, nourished, or energized?

? Choose One Small Replenishing Activity

Intentionally make space for one activity that helps refill your cup this week.

It doesn't have to be complicated.

It could be:

A walk without your phone
Stretching before bed
Calling a friend
Reading a few pages of a book
Listening to music while doing nothing else
Small moments of intentional recovery can have a powerful impact over time.

So, how will you intentionally rest and recover this week?


Julie Doan
Pharmacist and Certified Life Coach
Host of The Replenished in Healthcare Podcast