6 Signs of Mental Exhaustion
If you are feeling constantly exhausted, even after 7-8 hours of sleep - this post might be what you need.
6 Signs of mental exhaustion
1. Struggling to keep personal or work commitments
You struggle to find the motivation to do anything, even things you normally enjoyed or cared about.
You feel like you’re incapable of getting the work done. You struggle to find the motivation you need.
The goals that once stimulated you to work hard are not enough. This is especially difficult to deal with when you’re at the workplace or school since there are inevitably due dates for various tasks or assignment
2. Never being on time
If you were always the punctual person, and now you find yourself struggling to get through the doors on time, that may be because of your mental exhaustion.
It gets hard to know which way is up, or down, and which day it is when your brain is so tired. It’s hard to manage time and accurately plan it out so you can make it placed on time.
3. Feeling a sense of detachment
You don’t feel you’ve been attached to anyone or anything anymore. Nothing affects you. You don’t feel good or bad. It’s like you are just a body without any emotion. You’ve gone numb.
Whatever it is that you’re dealing with has drained you to the point where you literally can’t feel the emotions you’d normally feel when you encounter a situation or subject.
This is sort of like depression, only instead of feeling weighed down by emotion, you’re weighed down by the absence thereof.
4. Struggling to keep personal or work commitments
If you were always the punctual person, and now you find yourself struggling to get through the doors on time, that may be because of your mental exhaustion.
It gets hard to know which way is up, or down, and which day it is when your brain is so tired. It’s hard to manage time and accurately plan it out so you can make it placed on time.
5. Feeling dizzy and nauseous
The feeling of nausea and dizziness are signs that you need rest and it should be your primary priority.
These things happen because you are so stressed out that your body can’t take it anymore and is suffering a breakdown.
Whenever a person experiences a mental breakdown, this naturally manifests physically as well.
This is especially true if you’re the sort of person who carries stress in your belly, or if you clench your muscles subconsciously to brace against whatever is hurting you.
6. You are crying or want to cry often
The overwhelm is so intense that you are in tears often if not every day. You feel like there is no way out and can’t escape your situation.
You find yourself crying in the morning, and at night and the smallest of things can potentially offset anger or feelings of despair.
How to combat mental exhaustion
You can make certain lifestyle changes to help alleviate symptoms of emotional exhaustion.
These techniques won’t be easy to carry out at first, but they’ll get easier as you begin to form healthier habits.
1. Eliminate stressors
This is easier said than done, and a bit vital. If your work environment is the cause of your emotional exhaustion, consider changing jobs or companies.
If you are self-employed, reconsider how you are planning and approaching your work. Establish boundaries and factor in an additional day when giving deadlines to your clients.
2. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness techniques are scientifically recognized to reduce stress and anxiety and can be the key to ending your emotional slump.
Mindfulness is simply the act of engaging with the present moment. This can help direct your attention away from negative thinking.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness. Examples include daily meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, going for a nature walk, and keeping a journal to write down your feelings and thoughts.
3. Connect with a trusted friend
Talking face-to-face with a friend is a wonderful way to relieve stress.
The person listening doesn’t necessarily have to fix your issues, they just have to be a good listener. A trusted friend or family member can listen without judging you.
If you don’t have anyone close to turning to, check if your employer has an employee assistance program (EAP) with counseling services.
4. Rediscover yourself (self-care)
Take time for yourself with no guilt. For example, you could start by taking a long shower, getting a haircut, or manicure.
The most important thing is to carve time out during your day to take care of yourself. Are you exercising and eating well? These are simple changes that, with consistency, can help recharge the mind.
My main takeaway:
Having experienced mental exhaustion, an important lesson was: If your current routine is causing mental exhaustion, unless you change something, it will continue to occur.