After an intense physical activity you feel weary and drained, right? Well, the same rule of exhaustion works when we go through long periods of intense mental activity.
Prolonged mental activity without rest can take away your mental peace and sanity.
Mental exhaustion, also known as burnout or mental fatigue, is a state of chronic physical and emotional depletion caused by prolonged stress, overwork, or an imbalance between responsibilities and resources.
Recognizing the signs of mental exhaustion, understanding the underlying causes, and learning effective strategies to avoid them are the crucial steps toward maintaining good mental health and overall well-being. Your body reacts when you are mentally exhausted, and some of the common signs are listed below, according to the experts.
- EndlessFatigue
You may feel tired despite getting enough rest, leading to a constant lack of energy and motivation. You feel tired and low on energy all the time, and some days getting out of bed to perform daily chores feels like a task.
- Reduced Productivity
Experiencing a lack of productivity, creativity, and efficiency in work, both at work and in personal life, are some signs of mental exhaustion. Mental weariness starts affecting all aspects of your life from personal relationships to falling behind on the professional front.
There is reduced motivation and creativity to ace at work or in life.
- Detachment from Society
“The exhausted one can feel withdrawal nature from social interactions, feel emotionally numb and experience a sense of detachment from the loved ones and lose interest in activities once enjoyed,” says Jasleen Kaur.
- Negative ThoughtsÂ
There is a drastic shift in the attitude of a mentally exhausted person. That person adopts a pessimistic outlook, sees challenges as insurmountable obstacles, and dwells on failures.
- Avoidance of Communication
A person who feels mentally weary sees difficult conversations as challenges and avoids conversations. Alongside mentally, he/she becomes unresponsive and isolates himself/herself from friends, family, and colleagues.
- Cognitive Difficulties
A mentally exhausted person feels difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things.
- Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, and frequent illnesses are a result of a weakened immune system and hindered sleep patterns due to burnout according to the experts. What causes mental exhaustion? Some of the common causes of mental exhaustion are:
- Extreme Workload
Juggling between multiple tasks and responsibilities without adequate time for relaxation leads to mental exhaustion.
- Lack of Control
A person feeling powerless and unable to influence decisions or outcomes in personal or professional life feels burned out mentally.
- Lack of Recognition
A lack of acknowledgment or appreciation for one’s efforts and contributions leads to a lack of motivation in the person.
- Unrealistic Expectations
Setting impossibly high standards for oneself and the inability to achieve them leads to perpetual feelings of failure.
Striving for flawlessness in all tasks leads to excessive self-criticism and dissatisfaction even with minor mistakes.
- Poor Communication
Poor communication failure to express feelings, needs, or concerns, leading to misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts can lead to emotional exhaustion.
- Lack of Social Support
A person who feels isolated and unsupported, lacks a network of friends, family, or colleagues to rely on has a greater chance of feeling burned out mentally.
- Job Dissatisfaction
Being an active part of a toxic work environment or experiencing bullying or harassment and feeling undervalued at work gives rise to mental burnout.