Most women never truly switch off

Research from Wellwoman found 62% of women feel mentally 'on call' even when physically resting. Many struggle to carve out genuinely uninterrupted time for themselves.

“62% of women feel mentally 'on call' while resting”

Guilt keeps women constantly available

More than 61% of women feel guilty if they don't respond to messages quickly. This guilt makes it hard to truly disconnect from demands.

“More than six in 10 women (61%) say they feel guilty if they don't respond to someone quickly”

The 'Availability Load' is real

Wellwoman coined this term to describe the expectation women feel to remain contactable and ready for work, family, friends and home demands, even during downtime.

Uninterrupted time is shockingly rare

Almost a quarter of women get less than an hour of genuinely uninterrupted time to themselves. For working women, 48% find it easier to schedule a work meeting than an hour alone.

“Almost a quarter of women (24%) get less than an hour of genuinely uninterrupted time to themselves”

Downtime gets interrupted constantly

48% of women have stopped watching TV to respond to non-urgent messages. 44% have interrupted meals, and 26% have even interrupted sleep to respond to others' needs.

“Almost half (48%) of women surveyed say they have stopped watching a TV show or film to respond to a non-urgent message”

Lack of rest damages everyday wellbeing

57% of women say that without uninterrupted time, it becomes harder to maintain healthy routines like eating well, being active and sleeping properly.

“57% say that when they don't get enough uninterrupted time, it becomes harder to maintain healthy routines”

Physical rest doesn't mean mental rest

Clinical psychologist Dr Claire Plumbly explains that you can be physically resting while your mind monitors messages and anticipates needs. This isn't genuinely restorative.

“You can be physically resting, but if part of your attention is still monitoring messages... that may not feel like genuinely restorative downtime”

The 'Unavailable Hour' solution

Set aside time when you're deliberately not available to anyone. It could mean putting your phone away, going outside, moving, or sitting quietly. There are no rules about what you do.

It shouldn't feel like another task

The 'Unavailable Hour' works best when it doesn't become another item on your to-do list. It's about creating a boundary where you're not expected to respond, not adding more pressure.

“It shouldn't be a luxury to create time for yourself”