Too Tired to Care? Yeah, Me Too

We all get tired. Long day, bad sleep, skipped coffee or tea, whatever. But have you ever been so exhausted that even eight hours of sleep, a weekend off, or a vacation did not fix it? No amount of rest is helping you rejuvenate, freshen up completely.

What could it be?

This tiredness is not just in the I need a nap way, but in the I could sleep for a year and still feel exhausted way. That is emotional burnout, my friend. And it is brutal. It takes away your mental peace.

You can sleep for 12 hours and still wake up exhausted if your soul is tired.

Burnout isn’t just feeling a little stressed. Stress is like that annoying colleague who won’t stop emailing you, but burnout? That is a problem, a big one.

Burnout is when you stop caring enough to even check your inbox.

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls it an ‘occupational phenomenon,’ meaning it is not a disease but still serious enough to mess with your life. And trust me, it does.

It starts subtly and slowly. A little irritation here, a bit of mental fog there. Then one day, you wake up and realize you have zero patience, everything annoys you, and even your hobbies feel like chores. Suddenly, scrolling Instagram feels like work, replying to texts is so so exhausting, and even deciding what to eat feels like an impossible task.

Consider Burnout as something when even fun feels like work.

The worst part? You don’t even know why you feel this way. You have rested. You have slept. You have done all the so called self-care things. But nothing helps. Because this isn’t just about being tired.

Burnout does not discriminate. Sure, we mostly hear about it in a workplace setting, but it can hit you anywhere, whether you are a caregiver, a student, a CEO of a multinational or even just someone trying to keep up with daily life.

It is the result of too many demands, too little resources, and zero time to recharge.

Burnout does not ask for permission, it just walks in, unpacks its bags, and makes itself at home.

And right now, it is winning:

I think about work even when I am trying to relax.

I wake up in the middle of the night, stressed, heart racing for no reason.

I feel drained, sad and depressed.

I think a lot.

I feel overwhelmed at times…

So, what causes it? In a world that never logs off, our brains never get a break. Work stress, family responsibilities, endless notifications, it is like running a marathon that never ends. You try to rest, but your mind is still sprinting. It sneaks up on you.

Have you ever felt completely at peace, only to suddenly reach for your phone and open something without even thinking?

This whole concept of grind culture or hustle culture or whatever you wish to call it is not helping. Somewhere along the way, we started thinking that being busy means success, that rest is a weakness, and that if you are not always working, you are falling behind.

So what do we do about it?

You are not a machine. You are allowed to rest without feeling guilty.

You can’t just sleep it off , I have tried, it doesn’t work. But there are things you can do to stop burnout from completely taking over your life:

Fake a commute.

Get dressed for work, then take a short walk around the block before sitting down. It helps separate work and personal life.

So how do you recharge when sleep isn’t enough?

First, unplug. No, seriously. Put your phone down. Step away from the screens. Let your brain breathe.

Strict working hours = sanity.

If your work hours are 9–5, then stop checking emails at 8 and don’t take calls at 6. Your personal life deserves protection

Second, do something mindless, but fun. Paint, dance, cook, or just sit in the sun doing absolutely nothing. Give your brain a break from constantly processing information.

Lunch outside.

A change of setting, some fresh air, and a little sunlight can work wonders. The sun is healing. Unless it’s summer, then obviously the shade is healing.

Third, stop saying yes to everything. Personally, My biggest problem in hand. You are not a superhero. Protect your energy. If something drains you, it is okay to step back.

Post-work decompression.

Take another walk when you are done with work. Listen to music, a podcast, or just enjoy the silence. Let your brain know work is over.

And most importantly, talk about it. Emotional burnout thrives in silence. The more you ignore it, the worse it gets. So, reach out. A friend, a therapist, your dog whoever. Just do not keep it all inside.

Stop thinking about work when you’re not working.

If it’s important, write it down for later. If it is not, let it go. Your brain needs space to recharge.

Burnout is your body’s way of saying, ‘I’m done. Either you slow down, or I’ll make you.’

So, listen to yourself. Take the break. Recharge. Because the world will keep spinning, but you? You deserve to breathe.

Your job will replace you in a week, but your body won’t. Take care of it.

***

Thank you for reading! Here are a few more interesting reads that could make a meaningful difference.

If you enjoy my articles or have any suggestions, feel free to share your thoughts and give hearts as a token of appreciation!