With the lifestyle that many of us find ourselves leading, perhaps due to a stressful job, or due to a complex situation in the family or with friends, it sometimes happens that we experience signs of a certain mental tiredness.
This is a problem that affects many people, precisely because its causes are numerous, as are the many ways in which it can manifest itself. Let's see then, more precisely, what is meant by mental fatigue, what symptoms and signs it presents, how it is linked to some of our habits and, above all, what the possible remedies may be.
What is mental fatigue?
Mental fatigue is a term used to indicate a feeling of tiredness, exhaustion and lack of psychological energy. A physically tired person generally just tries to sleep, while for mental fatigue, sleep or general rest may not be enough, and further measures may be needed.
Of course, it should also be noted that mental fatigue can be more or less severe, and also more or less frequent. It is normal to feel the need for a break after having tackled complex tasks or solved some problem or difficulty; but it can have an impact on the quality of life.
Often, in fact, those who show signs of mental fatigue do not lack the desire to get moving, but the energy to do so; perhaps, even if they have it, it seems to them that they do not have it. A person who is very tired from a psychological point of view may have both the motivation and the desire to commit to what they do, but may find the effort too demanding.
There are many signs that could accompany mental fatigue, although they are very subjective. For example, some people may also suffer from headaches or migraines; others may also feel physical or psychophysical fatigue, which can manifest itself with weakness or muscle pain; others may feel a general sense of exhaustion.
Tiredness can also affect sensitivity and emotional aspects: you may feel more prone to anger, irritability, crying or bad mood; appetite and sleep may also be affected, with episodes of drowsiness or, on the contrary, insomnia.
Possible causes of mental fatigue
Mental fatigue can affect anyone: from students to workers, from workers to pensioners. The specific working or study conditions are not important: what matters is how you live it, and this is what can bring with it some disorders.
In short, it all depends on the ability to achieve one's own balance. And this can be determined by many circumstances.
To feel good about yourself, it is always useful to adopt a healthy and balanced diet. To feel good, our body needs a series of nutrients to be taken through a healthy diet and various food sources, otherwise we may feel tired or fatigued.
There are also specific conditions that almost inevitably bring with them psychophysical fatigue. It is perfectly normal, for example, during pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause for a woman to feel exhausted and experience more fatigue in daily activities.
We also add that there are some pharmacological therapies that could cause physical or mental fatigue as a side effect. In this case, a certain exhaustion could be physiological and inevitable, so we recommend consulting your doctor.
Finally, let's not forget that there are also forms of personal predisposition to mental fatigue... Nothing to worry about, obviously: you just need to know how to deal with the situation in the right way!
Mental fatigue and lifestyle
Beyond all the factors and direct or indirect causes that can come into play in these cases, there are many habits and lifestyles that can influence mental fatigue. Sometimes, in order to overcome this type of problem, it can be helpful to try to counteract and modify these attitudes. But what are they?
First of all, it must be said that we often follow bad habits in terms of nutrition, which can impact our body and also our mind. Frequently skipping meals, or having too many snacks close together, but also eating foods that contain an excessive amount of sugar or, on the contrary, not meeting the daily requirement of nutrients: these are all behaviors that can have negative effects on one's energy. [MT1]
Also, some of us sleep poorly and poorly. To avoid any disturbances such as confusion and lack of concentration, it is very important to get enough rest every night.
Even an unhealthy lifestyle does not help: drinking too much, smoking or abusing stimulants, including coffee, may seem harmless at the time; very soon, however, the excessive consumption of these products can have effects on our well-being and the proper functioning of our body.
Another bad habit that is easy to fall into is not being physically active. Being active, whether it is running, walking, going to the gym or playing a team sport, helps your brain and body stay healthy, active and healthy. Not to mention that physical activity can support our body, from the muscular system to the immune system.
Tips for dealing with mental fatigue
Fortunately, there are some ways to try to overcome those periods of mental fatigue that make our days heavy and tiring, without having to undertake any specific treatment. The ultimate goal, in these cases, is to try to identify and reduce the cause that triggers stress and makes every daily activity tiring.
First of all, we should adopt a healthy, balanced and constant diet. We prefer seasonal fruits and vegetables, which can help us integrate vitamins and mineral salts, antioxidants and all the nutrients we need to be more active and support our metabolism. At the same time, we limit caffeine, alcohol and the like.
At the same time, let's try to do some exercise every day or, at least, several times a week. It is not necessary to engage in extreme activities: a few hours of brisk walking, or a few short sessions at the gym, but also some light physical exercise such as fitness, yoga, pilates and the like are enough.
It is also necessary to allow yourself adequate rest in both quantity and quality. Sleeping well and for a good number of hours is very important, and even during the day it is good to seek a bit of relaxation. For this reason, many basic relaxation techniques can be used, which can help us recharge our energies.
Relaxation can also be promoted through recreational activities and hobbies, which we can dedicate ourselves to by carving out some well-deserved free time for ourselves. You can read a book, listen to good music, watch a film or a TV series, but also paint, cook, play an instrument and so on. Spending time doing what you love is an excellent method for recovering energy and positivity.
Finally, we can also plan our day better. Creating a routine helps to put order in what we do and, therefore, prepare our mind for the activity without this generating excessive stress. We should always give ourselves some moments of pause and, if possible, aim to reduce the overload of work or study every day.