You’ve noticed your child collapsing into endless scrolling on their phone or zoning out in front of a screen after a long day. It’s not that they’re lazy—they’re utterly exhausted. But the way they rest doesn’t seem to recharge them, leaving them stuck in a cycle of burnout and frustration.
For neurodiverse students, rest can feel elusive. Their brains often crave stimulation, even when they’re tired, leading them to default to activities that distract rather than restore energy. Without healthy forms of rest, they may never fully recharge, leaving them feeling drained, irritable, and less able to manage their daily responsibilities.
The longer this pattern continues, the more their exhaustion builds. They may start feeling guilty for how they spend their downtime, yet unable to break free from habits that don’t serve them. Over time, this lack of true rest impacts their focus, motivation, and emotional well-being. And as a parent, you might wonder how to guide them toward healthier rest without making them feel judged or pressured.
This week in therapy, a student shared: “Whenever I have free time, I just end up on my phone or gaming. It’s like I don’t know how to actually rest. Even when I try something different, it feels like work, so I just go back to what’s easy, even if I know it’s not the best for me.”
They explained how this cycle left them feeling more tired, not less. “I want to know how to relax in a way that actually makes me feel good, but I don’t even know where to start.”
Through therapy, we identified what rest they needed (e.g. emotional rest, creative rest, etc) and started by redefining what rest means for them. We introduced the concept of “active rest”—activities that are low effort but still engaging, like drawing, listening to music, or spending a few minutes outside.
Their tutor also worked on incorporating “brain breaks” during study sessions using the Pomodoro timer, helping them practice micro-rest periods throughout their day. At home, parents were encouraged to model and introduce simple, enjoyable ways to rest—like a family beach walk or a no-pressure creative activity like doing a puzzle together.
Over time, these small shifts helped the student explore healthier ways to recharge. They learned that rest doesn’t have to look a certain way—it just has to leave them feeling a little lighter, calmer, and more connected to themselves.
If your child struggles with finding healthy forms of rest, it’s not just about downtime—it’s about helping them discover what truly recharges them. At Warrior Brain, our integrated therapy and tutoring services work together to teach neurodiverse students how to rest in ways that nurture their body and mind, making life easier for them—and for you.
