Mental Exhaustion

TL;DR

This article reflects on the concept of mental exhaustion, especially from working solo on personal projects. The writer shares the fatigue of balancing testing, measuring, and tweaking in pursuit of goals, revealing that physical stamina doesn’t always match mental endurance. This mental toll, despite outsourcing attempts, stems from continuous learning and doing everything independently, ultimately leading to burnout.

Is there such a condition called 'mental exhaustion'?

I don't know.

Maybe there is.

But I've come to a point where I feel tired doing what I do.

Maybe not quite entirely correct, but I'm tired chasing something.

Early this year, I set off on a personal project. I've putting the project off for a while now, so I revisit and thought to myself, "Maybe it's time to get back in."

And I get back in.

Know what I'm up to

This time I've decided to play the game differently.

I know what success looks like.

I know what to measure and I know how to get it.

Or I thought I know...

After engaging myself in what I supposed to be activities to help my success with my project, I've come to a different realization.

No.

It's not a detour.

I guess I was taken aback with the outcome.

Time is not on my side

At least I feel that it is not!

Testing, measuring and tweaking - all these require considerable amount of time.

Having been trained as researcher seem not enough.

I want to see fast result.

I want to see quick outcomes so that I can make necessary adjustment and get to my objective fast.

But like I said, time seems not to be on my side.

And I am mentally exhausted

I can feel that my physic still can run the miles but my mental - I feel like I need months of break!

Maybe it's because I'm doing everything on my own.

Yeah, I heard about outsourcing.

In fact:

I tried that with my project and it did light up some burden but still, it's not enough.

Part of me still want to do it on my own

I'm learning.

Learning, for me, is a lifelong process.

Learning, I've found out, is best done by doing.

Learning by doing.

That works best.

By doing, I will go through the whole ups and downs of the learning curve, and once again, I got mentally tired.

Learning is more mental than physical

Even when it is learning by doing, my mental takes more toll on me.

It really is tiring on the inside.

Perhaps from digesting all the data.

Perhaps from designing...from testing...from tweaking.

I need a break.

Writing this down, unfortunately, drains my mental energy just like taking on my project.

Disclaimer:

This article shares my personal experience and insights on handling mental exhaustion. It’s not intended as professional advice. If you’re dealing with prolonged or intense mental fatigue, I encourage you to seek support from a qualified mental health professional.

 

Practical Strategies to Manage Mental Exhaustion

Navigating mental exhaustion isn’t easy, but here are a few strategies I’ve found helpful:

Establish Boundaries: Sticking to a work schedule can make a huge difference. Giving yourself a start and end time creates balance and prevents endless work from taking over your day.

 Incorporate Regular Breaks: Short, regular breaks—whether for a walk or just a quick mental reset—are essential for recharging and maintaining focus throughout the day.

Delegate or Outsource When Possible: Letting go of some tasks by outsourcing or delegating isn’t always easy but can be a real game-changer. This way, you can channel more energy toward your most impactful work.

Prioritize Self-Care: When I take care of basics like sleep, exercise, and balanced meals, my energy and focus levels are noticeably better. These small self-care habits add up and can make mental resilience much stronger.

PS. When I hit a wall with mental exhaustion, I started exploring simple remedies. One approach I found helpful was a blend of self-care practices that you can read about in Remedy for My Mental Exhaustion.

And for those days when fatigue triggers headaches, there’s nothing like an affordable, quick fix. I shared my favorite go-to for this in Cheap Remedy for Headache You Can Do at Home.

 

PPS. You know that feeling when you’re juggling so much that even your brain waves feel exhausted?

Yeah, that’s mental exhaustion sneaking up on you like an uninvited guest. It’s that familiar blend of stress and fatigue we don’t talk about enough because, let’s face it, we often think it’s “normal” to feel this way.

But as you’ll see, understanding mental health and breaking down the stigma around it is like finally acknowledging that mental exhaustion is real—and that it’s okay to take a break, get some rest, and maybe even have a laugh about it.

If you’ve ever been that person holding it all together while running on empty, this article has a few insights (and laughs) that just might help you recharge.