Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment." - Dale Carnegie

When Your Brain Just Can’t Anymore: Why You’re Tired (Even After Rest)

Let’s talk about something that’s been showing up more and more in therapy sessions lately — and it might surprise you: That flat, foggy, low-key anxious feeling that doesn’t seem to go away. The endless to-do list that never quite gets done. The exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix.

What you’re feeling might not be classic burnout. It might be something we’re only beginning to name:

✨ AI-era mental overload.

We live in a time of constant pings, rapid automation, and information coming at us from all directions. Emails, apps, texts, systems, scheduling tools, and decision fatigue are now part of our daily mental diet — and our brains simply weren’t built for this level of input.

Even though many of these tools are designed to make life “easier,” they can subtly create:

Overwhelm from constant decision-making

Chronic distraction and low focus

Nervous system overstimulation

A loss of meaning and connection in daily tasks

This is more than just being busy. It’s being saturated. And over time, it can mimic symptoms of anxiety, ADHD, and even depression.

So what can we do?

Here are 5 psychology-backed practices to start creating space inside a very full world:

1. Create white space on your calendar.

Block out time where nothing is scheduled — not even a walk or a call. Let your mind be unstructured for a while. Research shows this helps reset the prefrontal cortex and improves decision-making.

2. Turn off at least one notification source.

You don’t need to be available 24/7. Silence one stream — whether it’s texts, Slack, or email — for at least part of your day. Your nervous system will thank you.

3. Practice monotasking.

Multitasking drains cognitive energy. Choose one task. Do it fully. Finish it. Then move to the next. It’s more productive and more calming.

4. Reconnect with something analog.

A book. A puzzle. A handwritten note. Physical tasks bring us back into the body and reduce digital overstimulation.

5. Ask yourself: What can I remove, not just improve?

Sometimes it’s not about optimizing — it’s about letting go. Cut one thing this week that feels mentally draining, even if it’s small.

Remember, you are not a machine. You are a human being with limits, rhythms, and needs.

In a world that’s speeding up, healing often looks like slowing down.

If this resonates and you want support navigating your own nervous system or redefining your relationship with stress, I’m here.