Mental fatigue (also known as mental exhaustion) is exactly what it says on the tin: your mind is exhausted. It is often the result of “prolonged cognitive activity,” where you’ve been exercising your mind without pausing to recharge the battery. And this really can take its toll.
Slowly but surely, I’ve been noticing my brain’s energy depleting; it was becoming physically and mentally obvious that I needed to rest. But it turns out I didn’t know how to do that, at least not without feeling like I was doing something wrong.
I think many of us punish ourselves for pausing. We don’t want to feel lazy. But this self-criticism can make the problem worse. Since working on myself, I’ve been condensing so much into my day that when time wasn’t filled with work or something else, I felt lost, anxious, and guilty. Thoughts like “What do I do with myself?” or “I have free time; my mind’s going to fill it!” left me unsettled.
How Mental Exhaustion Can Lead To Burnout
The thing is, I did need to rest. I was burning out, and I could tell. I felt exhausted everyday. Remaining focused on my new mindset was more challenging. I just felt like I was having to put so much more effort in to get through the day without feeling disheartened.
Yet my approach to preventing mental fatigue was having the opposite effect. When I felt emotionally challenged, I’d add in another practice or task to pull me out of it. When I felt exhausted, I’d add in another coffee. I kept piling more things on the plate for a number of reasons. Perhaps partly to not feel the anxiety of stillness or silence and maybe with the hopes that sooner or later, all the work would pay off. And don’t get me wrong, it is. Since starting my healing journey, I have been improving. But the mental fatigue that has been building up over time can lead to burnout. According to burnout expert Erayna Sargent, it “can happen in different facets of your life where you’re giving a lot of yourself or committing a lot of different energy.” Which runs the risk of us crashing.
Signs You May Be Experiencing Mental Fatigue
Mental fatigue impacts how you think, feel, and act. Below are some symptoms I’ve seen in myself, along with some of the more common signs you may be mentally drained:
I feel less resilient to uncomfortable feelings, such as self-doubt and insecurity
When I’m mentally exhausted, the inner critic in me is louder than usual, and it’s harder to remember that what she says isn’t actually true.
I Feel A Lingering Sense That Something Bad Is About To Happen
I do struggle with that background feeling of unease, but the more mentally tired I am, the stronger that anxiety is.
Mental Fatigue Can Cause Me To Become Physically Exhausted
Even when I have just woken up. I could sleep throughout the night, but I’ll still have to pull over on my way to work and nap again.
I Feel More Disconnected, Like I’m An Island
It’s hard to remember that I’m not alone or abnormal in these feelings, but this can cause isolating behaviours.
You Can Be More Forgetful And Just Feel More “Foggy”
More signs of mental fatigue can be found here. But again, I firmly believe that symptoms are personal to each and every one of us. Just because you don’t relate to the ones above, don’t let yourself or anyone else invalidate your experience. If you think you’re struggling with mental fatigue, then listen to your mind, brain, and body and support yourself. No one knows you better than you.
How To Climb Out Of That Mental Fatigue Hole
I’ve now learned that despite wanting to go full speed ahead with my personal development, I have to listen to myself and my body. Rest is just as key to our healing as productivity. Here are a few things that help me recharge and refocus, and you never know, they might help you:
I Prioritise My Daily Tasks To Prevent Mental Fatigue
And take the pressure off of having to complete the whole list. Tasks that I feel won’t negatively affect me too much, I skip, so that I can take my time with more important ones and still have time to rest more.
I Make Sure I Meditate
It really does help reground and replenish my resilience.
I Sleep More
And remind myself not to feel guilty for doing so (this includes naps!).
I Will Be Mindful
Of things that are draining my energy even more and put a stop to them, such as too much scrolling.
I’ll Talk To Someone I Care About And Who Cares About Me
Because despite mental fatigue making me prone to isolation, I know that once I start cutting myself off, it’ll be harder for me to climb back out.
Take Time To Reconnect With Yourself And Overcome Mental Fatigue
I’ll allow myself to take a time out and get back to my routine afterwards. I’ll watch something that brings me joy, and just relax.
And just like anything, what works for one person may not work for another. There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to recovering from mental fatigue. (There are more techniques and practices on my “tools” page).
Just be kind and patient with yourself, and trust that you’ll get there.
Can you relate to mental fatigue? What helps you recharge and refocus? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment or just fill out a contact form!
