What drains your mental energy? (2023)

What depletes mental energy?

Mental fatigue is the result of an overactive brain. It can happen when you expend too much mental effort on projects or tasks. You may pride yourself on your work prowess, spending long hours on tasks, day in and day out. But taken to the extreme, this can become a liability.

Stress. Conflict and stress can quickly deplete your energy resources, say Lluch and Helen Eckmann, EdD, authors of Simple Principles to Feel Better & Live Longer. To deal with stress, they advise, communicate, compromise, and problem-solve.

You may be mentally exhausted if you've recently undergone long-term stress, find it hard to focus on tasks, or lack interest in activities you usually enjoy. Mental exhaustion often happens as a result of overuse, like physical overuse injuries.

Negative or unwanted thoughts can keep you from enjoying experiences, distract you from focusing on what's important, and drain your energy. They can also make you feel anxious and depressed.

Get moving.

Exercise is a natural energy booster, because whenever you do it, oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain. Regularly squeezing a workout into your day -- even if you can spare only 10 minutes at a time -- will help keep your energy levels at their peak.

Smoking kills. No other habit has been so strongly tied to death. In addition to cancer, smoking causes heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How do you live with someone who drains your energy?

The following factors can contribute to fatigue, either alone or in combination: Psychological and psychosocial – stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical – anemia, diabetes, glandular fever, and cancer. Physiological – pregnancy, breast-feeding, inadequate sleep, and excessive exercise.

Take Breaks

You might feel less drained if you take short breaks during long stretches of mental work. There isn't an exact amount of rest time that works best for everyone. But you may want to recharge for a few minutes every 1-2 hours. Some people like to use something called the Pomodoro Technique.

Take time for walking breaks, snack breaks, and brain rest. This can help you recharge and avoid cognitive overload. Make study periods longer and more focused. The longer you study, the more likely you'll end up struggling to maintain your concentration.

Being burned out means feeling empty and mentally exhausted, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People experiencing burnout often don't see any hope of positive change in their situations. If excessive stress feels like you're drowning in responsibilities, burnout is a sense of being all dried up.

Overthinking makes everything feel important, leading to decision fatigue. And situations where we have to make lots of decisions can leave us stressed and fatigued, leading to overthinking. “Overthinking and decision fatigue can lead us into a loop of rumination and mental exhaustion,” Dr. Menchola said.

A variety of factors can affect this natural ebb and flow. These include sleep and stress levels, your level of physical activity and the foods you eat. Generally, having a meal or snack tends to refuel your tank, helping you feel more energetic. However, some foods may actually zap your energy.

What vitamin gives you energy?

Vitamin B12 along with B6 are best for energy. Almost every cell in the body uses B12. Besides helping form red blood cells, B12 converts fat and protein to energy. A B12 deficiency causes tiredness and anemia.

So does vitamin B12 give you energy? While B12 doesn't directly provide energy, it does give the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy. Getting the recommended daily amount of B12 can therefore help ensure that the body is able to make the energy it needs to do everything you need it to do.

Get Plenty of Rest

Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Set up a nightly routine which will help you relax naturally at the end of the day. Consider a warm bath, relaxing stretches, meditation and reading a book. Avoid electronics and screens for 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.

Malnutrition, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consuming, drug abuse, stress and so on, are the presentations of unhealthy life style that they are used as dominant form of lifestyle.

A toxic person is anyone whose behavior adds negativity and upset to your life. Many times, people who are toxic are dealing with their own stresses and traumas. To do this, they act in ways that don't present them in the best light and usually upset others along the way.

Toxic femininity refers to the adherence to the gender binary in order to receive conditional value in patriarchal societies. It is a concept that restricts women to being cooperative, passive, sexually submissive, gentle, and deriving their value from physical beauty while being pleasing to men.

An emotionally draining person is typically on the high end of the Neuroticism personality dimension. They're constantly negative, worried, anxious, and nervous. All of us experience these feelings from time to time, but for neurotic personalities, these experiences tend to be sticky.

What is narcissistic energy?

Narcissism is a condition in which a person feels pathological self-hatred and is preoccupied with projecting a lovable image. They are obsessed with this false image and put tremendous energy into other people's impressions of them.

Sometimes it might be because you are just feeling uninspired. In other cases, it might mean that you've lost interest in some of your old hobbies and need to explore some new passions. But sometimes this feeling can be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression.

You are overwhelmed by choices

When we are faced with too many options, we can actually start to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. This can make us feel lazy and unmotivated to make any decisions at all. It's important to simplify your life and focus on what's most important to you.

Standby Power

Today's electrical products are draining energy more than ever. And the culprit is standby power. Unless they're unplugged, many of your appliances are continuously using electricity. Top examples include TVs, DVR boxes, satellite TV boxes, computers, and video game consoles.

Fatigue is a common symptom of many illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, anemia, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea. Talk to your doctor if you feel unusually tired. Many medications can contribute to fatigue. These include some blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, diuretics, and other drugs.

Your Own Energy Is Depleted

Just like a vampire who's been unable to feed, you'll notice you feel drained yourself once you've exhausted the energy of those around you. Their avoidance of you will leave you unable to suck their energy anymore — and you'll feel the consequences.

Lifestyle factors can cause low energy levels, such as sleep patterns, exercise, and diet. Medical conditions, such as low testosterone and sleep apnea, can also cause low energy levels in men.