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Fixing Modern Fatigue

    Have you ever finished a long day of work feeling completely drained, even though you barely moved from your chair? You’re not lazy—this is a new kind of exhaustion. Unlike past generations who got tired from physical labor, we now feel mentally worn out while our bodies stay still. Sitting all day shouldn’t be this tiring, yet here we are, struggling to even change out of our work clothes.

    This exhaustion isn’t just in your head—it’s real. Scientists say our brains weren’t designed for today’s fast-paced, tech-filled world. Every notification, email, and distraction acts like a tiny stress attack, draining energy like a phone running too many apps. It’s not the good tiredness you feel after a workout; it’s a heavy, foggy fatigue that makes even small decisions feel overwhelming.

    Modern work life secretly steals our energy in small ways. Stressful commutes, endless emails, and noisy offices slowly add up. Open workspaces, bright lights, and office temperature battles keep our bodies uncomfortable without us realizing it. By the end of the day, we’re running on empty, wondering where all our energy went.

    Our brains are under constant attack from what we could call a “pingdemic.” The average worker checks their email 80 times a day, and each interruption takes 23 minutes to recover from. But since we switch tasks every six minutes, our brains never fully focus. Every ping—whether a text or a calendar alert—triggers a mini panic, like our ancestors facing danger. No wonder we feel hunted by our own devices.

    This exhaustion traps us in a vicious cycle. The more tired we get, the harder it is to recover. Poor sleep leads to caffeine crashes and junk food cravings, which only make us more drained. Simple tasks pile up, so we skip breaks and push harder, making things worse. One small problem leads to another, and soon, we’re stuck in survival mode.

    The worst part? When we finally have time to rest, we can’t. Many of us stay up late scrolling, trying to reclaim personal time, but this just makes us more tired. Even if we sleep, our brains are still buzzing from the day’s stress. Weekends don’t fully recharge us, so we start each new week already running low.

    The good news is we can break this cycle. Start with a one-week “energy audit.” Rate your energy four times a day on a scale of 1 to 10 and write a short note about what happened. This helps you spot patterns—like which tasks, people, or habits drain you the most. You don’t need to fix everything at once; just find the biggest energy thieves.

    Next, create a simple “power plan.” Pick one major energy drain and cut its impact in half. If emails exhaust you, check them less often. If sitting all day leaves you stiff, take a five-minute walk. Start with a change so small it feels easy—because when you’re exhausted, even tiny steps help.

    These small fixes add up over time. Gaining just 10% more energy makes the next step 10% easier. Soon, you’re not fighting uphill anymore—you’re building momentum. Remember, you’re not weak. Your brain is working overtime in a world it wasn’t built for. The fact you’re functioning at all is impressive.

    You deserve to feel alive, not just “getting by.” With a few smart changes, you can reclaim your energy and break free from modern exhaustion. The first step is realizing this isn’t your fault—it’s how the world works now. The next step is taking back control, one small win at a time.

 

Citation:

Sprouts (2019) The psychology of self-motivation. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yphBayeVgiM&t=14s&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D

 

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