Signs of Mental Exhaustion and How to Boost Brain Energy

Have you been feeling tired lately? You probably need more sleep, but there may be something else going on, too. Especially if you’ve noticed a drop in your motivation to write, or if you find that writing doesn’t come as easily as it once did. We writers place a high “cognitive load” on our brains. Not only do most of us do everything that everyone else does—go to work every day, raise families, run errands, respond to emergencies—but we create poems, articles, and stories from scratch. Again and again. It’s easy to forget how hard we’re working. Even when we begin to experience symptoms of mental exhaustion, we don’t put two and two together. The hard work your brain is doing could be hurting both your physical and mental health. Below are the signs of mental exhaustion, along with several tips to help you boost brain energy and take better care of yourself. Signs You May be a Mentally Exhausted Writer We can usually tell when we’re burned out, but prior to that, we often miss the signs that our brains need rest. Those signs are often subtle, especially in the beginning. They gradually get worse over time, but we tend to connect them to lack of sleep or stress or anything other than the mental work we’re doing. It can be confusing because usually lack of sleep and stress do factor into it, but it’s often the brain’s exhaustion that’s at the core of the issue. Ask yourself: Do any of the following symptoms sound familiar right now? If you’re mentally exhausted, you: Are often physically fatigued Experience increased irritability and mood swings Suffer from headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain Struggle to get a good night’s sleep Have difficulty concentrating Lack of motivation to get things done […]

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