To rest is to recover.

During the working day, our expenditure of effort and energy results in the activation of the body’s natural stress responses. By increasing our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, the sympathetic nervous system allows us to stay alert, and complete the tasks required of us.

Disconnecting from work during evenings and weekends provides time for these stress responses to return to their baseline levels. This not only allows us to recover before the next working period, but also prevents stress reactions from accumulating into something more chronic.