I think that the central gameplay loop can affect people differently. Some people can turn their conscious thought off and just go through a checklist of chores and it is relaxing. Others, like yourself, may find themselves stuck on the concept of "Am I doing the most I can with each possible day". If you don't mind sharing, do you bring a similar mindset to your professional or private life?

Unrelated note to your comment: "fmining" was a great skill track.