Stressed? A neuroscientist shows how your brain can calm down

In the past, "I'm on vacation" meant everything to most people: That person isn't there, unreachable, not on duty. Then they'll be back again. The technological advances of the past two decades, however, have softened this: emails, WhatsApp messages, and Microsoft Teams follow you to the most remote places on earth. Not being there no longer means you're unreachable. Those with responsibility seemingly don't want (or can't) do anything else. But what does that do to our mental health ? And is there a way to recover optimally so that we can be fully operational again afterwards?

We spoke with Frederik Hümmeke about this. He is an entrepreneur with a doctorate in behavioral philosophy, studied economics and neuroscience , and has spent more than a decade exploring the concept of productivity . In fall 2024, he also published his book "Follow Your Flow – Become Truly Effective and Satisfied with the Latest Research and Proven Practical Tips."

Gründerszene: Mr. Hümmeke, for people who primarily work with their heads, a vacation should provide as much rest for the brain as possible. How does that work?