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Your brain has this interesting peculiarity that wants to constantly return to unfinished things, like incomplete narratives, unresolved problems, unanswered questions, and unachieved goals because it craves cognitive closure. It's called the Zeigarnik effect. When we complete a task, our brains can "file away" the information related to that task, and we don't have to think about it anymore. However, when a task is incomplete, our brains keep "chunking" the information related to that task together, which makes it more accessible and easier to remember.
You can use this brain feature to your advantage to increase recall, problem solving, creativity. More: PN: Increase recall, solve problems, and increase creativity by leaving things unfinished (Zeigarnik effect)
However, the Zeigarnik effect can sometimes also drive you crazy. For example, when you want to relax on a Saturday evening but you can't stop thinking about the taxes you need to finish by the end of the week or when you're on a nice walk in the forest but the thought of you having to pick your mother from the airport tomorrow morning keeps haunting you or when thoughts about work keep returning without end long after you came back from the office or even reappear in your dreams (happened to me recently).
In other words, there are things you just want to stop thinking about but no matter how much you try they keep coming back. This not only pisses you off but also hinders resting fully. (This may eventually add up to burnout)
What's the remedy?
To prevent unwanted thoughts from reappearing you have to trick your mind into believing that the things are finished.
How?
Write things down. This will give your brain the feeling that the thing is already being dealt with so it can stop thinking about it.
Don't know what to do? Write "I don't know what to do".
Need to make the taxes on Sunday? Write a reminder for Sunday "Do taxes"
Need to pick up your mum tomorrow? Write a reminder for tomorrow "Pick up mum"
Need to create a presentation at work? Create a todo for that in a file you will revisit at work.
Etc.
Relevant notes (PN: )
tk P: It's extremely easy to overwork yourself in the modern, digitalized, remote world of work: reappearing thoughts about work will hinder your recovery and thus may contribute to burnout.