1. An Unfulfilling Job
Everyone knows they spend at least eight hours a day at their job for generally five days a week. If you think about it closely though, you'll realize that this 40 hours a week translates to about 88 full days a year you're at your job. We're talking 88 straight 24-hour days worth of work in a year. That's about 25% of your entire existence, not including sleep, spent at your job. That's a lot of time. So if your job is unfulfilling to you, no wonder your mental fortitude takes the biggest beating. Unfulfilling can also mean several things:- You could hate your job.
- You could somewhat enjoy it but not be learning anything.
- You could dislike your job but get paid well.
- You could think your job is OK but you're bored with it.
2. Overwhelming Task List
Got stuff to do? Great, so does everyone else. Got a lot of stuff to do? You're not alone. Image this: You open your task list, whether it's pen and paper or on your phone, ready to start checking items off your list. You sip your coffee, sit down, and almost fall backwards off your chair when you realize you've got about 18 things to do in the next five hours. And this may be a contributing factor to your lack of energy. Feeling overwhelmed is a quick way to feeling burned out. When we feel like we have too many things to do, we tend to freeze (or have what's called workload paralysis((Productivyist: How to Beat Task Paralysis))) because we don't know what to tackle first. This feeling continues, and before you know it, the entire day has gone by and we've filled our time doing everything but what we need to do; in other words, we do nothing of importance. Then as the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months, we come to the harsh realization we didn't really achieve all the things we set out to do. It's a defeating feeling when we don't think we're capable of achieving much. The defeating attitude is a vicious cycle too - you start by feeling overwhelmed, don't do anything about it, then waste time before feeling defeated - and a fast track to a mental burnout.3. Being a "Yes" Man or Woman
"Hey, want to go catch a movie?" "Want to come over?" "Can you pick me up from the airport?" "Want to grab dinner?" If you're a yes person, no doesn't exist in your personal dictionary. The problem is, it should. If you're spending all your time doing everything everyone else wants but no time doing the things you want, you won't get much accomplished in your life. Just like in the above example, when you realize months later you didn't get very far, you tend to become defeated, which ultimately leads to feeling mentally exhausted. The good news is you can become a "no" person whenever you feel like it, and in turn start accomplishing the things you want. But if you're used to saying yes, it's not an easy thing to suddenly switch gears. Being able to focus on yourself gives you an incredible sense of accomplishment and in turn helps your mental state; it's OK to be selfish with yourself.4. No Hobbies or Passions
Hobbies and passions are what fuel us to do great things. In many cases, they lead you to your life's purpose. At worst, they give you an incredible sense of fulfillment and source of happiness in your life. When your job gets tough, it's important to have an outlet to focus on. When your job isn't aligned with your passions or purpose, it's especially important to have an outlet to apply your skills and excitement towards. In fact, having something to put your attention towards can help provide your life with direction and meaning. And in a roundabout way, focusing on hobbies or passions can ultimately improve your work or family life.((Psychology Today: Six Reasons to Get a Hobby)) All this to say: you're a much better person, especially mentally, when you apply yourself towards things which interest you. When you don't have any source of motivation to work towards, you become tired of dealing with the everyday mundane things which life throws at you. And then you become annoyed and yet again, defeated.The Bottom Line
Feeling tired from a lack of sleep is one thing. Feeling tired because work isn't fulfilling, you have no hobbies or passions, you stretch yourself thin, or you feel overwhelmed is another thing. It's important to know the difference and work towards defeating the lack of energy you may be feeling. The four sources listed above are a starting point for you in your quest. There are many more, but these comprise some of the biggest. Now is the time to go on the offensive and not only get rest so you're physically fit, but get rest so you're mentally fit as well.More Resources to Help You Feel Energized
- How to Stay Awake and Energetic No Matter How Busy Your Schedule Is
- How to Get Motivated and Be Happy Every Day When You Wake Up
- Want to Feel More Energized Throughout the Day? Start With This
- 20 Simple Ways to Bring Positive Energy into Your Life Right Now
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