Many of us go through periods when we have to work intense and long hours and get very little time for rest. While this kind of overwork is not ideal, there are undoubtedly situations in which it becomes a necessity or makes sense.

You can buffer yourself against the stress of feeling rushed and overloaded if you recurrently pair simple sources of pleasure with particular activities you’re not as excited to do. Pair pleasure experiences, like a favorite snack, with ones that feel more stressful.

Compartmentalize: When engaged in tasks or parts of tasks you actually enjoy, make sure to focus on them exclusively.

Premack’s principle: Use an easier behaviour like running an errand as a reward for a harder behaviour like writing a complex report.

Add physical decompression rituals to your day, perhaps when you wake up, go to bed, or take a bathroom break.