Sunday afternoon is when the week catches up with you.

Not the good kind of catching up.

The kind where your nervous system is still running last Tuesday's stress loop while your mind is already worrying about Monday's to-do list.

Here's what I do at 72 that most people skip:

20 minutes. Eyes closed. Breath work. Nothing fancy.

I sit in my chair. I don't need a cushion or a guru or an app telling me to "find my center."

I breathe in for 4. Hold for 4. Out for 6.

I let my shoulders drop. I notice where I'm holding tension. I don't force it away. I just notice.

By minute 10, my heart rate has dropped. By minute 15, the mental static quiets. By minute 20, I'm reset.

Not enlightened. Not floating. Just back to baseline.

Most people think meditation is about clearing your mind.

It's not.

It's about giving your nervous system permission to stop running from invisible threats.

Your body doesn't know the difference between a real danger and the stress of an overpacked schedule. It just knows "alarm bells."

Sunday afternoon is your chance to turn the alarm off before Monday turns it back on.

Try it today. 20 minutes. Just you and your breath.

Your Monday self will thank you.