Often behind an unmotivated fatigue, which weakens the forces and the mood, mental fatigue is hidden; or the emotional overload, typical of those who accumulate too many worries, commitments or pressures and have been neglected for a long time.
Written and verified by the psychologist GetPersonalGrowth.
Last update: 15 November 2021
"I am exhausted, as tired as if I had run a marathon, as if I were carrying a boulder on my shoulders". How many times have we heard or spoken these words? Unreasonable fatigue, however, often has little to do with actual physical exertion. Behind this reality, mental fatigue is more easily hidden.
It is evident that there is a close link between body and mind. Nothing is more pleasant than coming home after playing sports or after a day of work, opening the door and feeling satisfied. This is the kind of fatigue in which the mind feels comfortable, is not in pain, is not "heavy" and much less exhausted. We know that the body will recover its strength after rest and we feel inner harmony.
There are times, however, in which the simple commitment of shopping or a dinner with friends requires an effort that seems beyond our strength.. These are situations that sometimes hide an underlying problem and that deserve our full attention.
“What can we get enough of…? Of life itself. Boredom. When you get tired of seeing your face in the mirror every morning. "
-Henning Mankell-
“I'm exhausted”: tiredness for no reason
When we feel very tired, we generally know why. Physical exertion, a longer working hours than usual, a trip with several stopovers are factors that explain fatigue. It is not difficult to identify the reason for the physical exhaustion that leaves us without energy and strength.
But if the source of physical and mental distress is unclear, stress is often the cause. It is not necessarily about everyday problems, disappointments or adversities. An unnecessary tiredness can be linked to the amount of commitments we make, without giving ourselves time to rest or even without being able to really focus on the commitments themselves..
Many of us wake up on automatic pilot: breakfast, take the children to school, go to work, come back ... We carry out these tasks almost by inertia, making one thing follow the other without stopping, without the possibility of meditating on what we are doing. We leave no room for reflection and rest and this lifestyle, in the end, presents us with the bill.
What Factors Cause Mental Fatigue?
Mental fatigue does not appear suddenly, but is the cumulative result of a number of factors. For example:
- Too many commitments. Follow more things than we can actually do.
- I “devo". If we think about it, phrases such as: I have to do, I have to go have great power on our minds… Mental obligations formulated in this way can exhaust our mind.
- Perfectionism. Another dimension that completes the "must". Everything we do must be done perfectly, quickly and effectively. Not only can fatigue result from this attitude, but also frustration.
- Lack of rest. This is the decisive factor. The lack of rest, not allowing ourselves a moment of relaxation or, of course, not sleeping well at night, then leads us to wonder what we have done to be so tired.
Strategies for Overcoming Mental Fatigue
In his famous book Your Wrong Zones, Wayne Dyer said that when we feel tired the best thing is to do different things.. To avoid, however, is to constantly complain about our state; in doing so the only result will be to transmit discouragement to others who, surely, already have to face their own inner realities.
In any case, tiredness for no reason is so only in appearance. There is always a reason and our change must begin from there. Immobility and complaints make this unhappy condition chronic. So let's see some small strategies to be applied immediately:
- Plan for moments of rest throughout the day. It is important to have at least two hours a day for yourself. This time you will use to think, relax, dedicate yourself to your interests.
- To distinguish, on a scale of priorities, what is important from what is secondary is another deciding factor.
- Make a commitment to take care of yourself. You deserve attention and pampering. This applies to both the body and the mind.
- Identify your mental patterns of self-sabotage. Statements like “I have to do this otherwise I won't be able to…”, “others expect me to…” are dimensions that undermine self-esteem and well-being.
Meditate…
Finally, an effective strategy is undoubtedly meditation. Getting used to dedicating about twenty minutes a day to this practice, you will notice the first benefits already after a few weeks. Consider, therefore, how important it is to deepen and work on this mental and emotional fatigue that often alters the quality of life. Do not postpone the resolution of a malaise you feel today until tomorrow.
