How do you overcome emotional fatigue?

Tough when most of us are conditioned to shut off emotions, even calling a whole bunch of them ‘negative’ or even ‘weak.’ It’s like we’re driving an overheating car and heard over and over, “Just ignore that blinking red light on the dashboard.” So to notice the signs, is itself a radical shift, bc we gotta stop belittling our own feelings. The idea is super easy, the practice isn’t: ask yourself, a bazillion times, “that’s interesting, I wonder what this feeling is trying to tell me?”

Emotional intelligence contains different aspects of which self-awareness is core The nature of self-awareness provides opportunities for one to examine how they are feeling and the impact this is causing. I ask clients to use the BET triangle to examine their Behaviours, Emotions and Thoughts by recognising signs to help overcome emotional tiredness. For example, my emotional tiredness can be attributed to a lack of food and nutritional balance. This can lead to erratic behaviour, being emotionally over sensitive and negative thoughts/actions. However, using the BET triangle allows me to recognise these behaviours, emotions and thoughts and having identified these issues act on them by, in this case, nourishing myself.

Esteja alerta sobre novas etapas da carreira, como promo??es ou desvio de fun??es, novos chefes, novas responsabilidades; mas também da vida, como nascimento de um filho que altera totalmente seu sono ou a queda hormonal com a chegada da menopausa. Essas s?o fases em que todo o seu sistema nervoso e endócrino está sendo posto à prova. Muitas pessoas n?o consideram que os desafios das novas fases criam altera??es no corpo, no cérebro e no estado emocional. Só come?am a dar a devida aten??o quando já existem sintomas. No entanto, os sinais já estavam lá bem antes, provavelmente. N?o é uma quest?o de excesso de auto inspe??o (que pode alimentar um tra?o hipocondríaco) mas sim de agu?ar a sensibilidade e aumentar o autoconhecimento.

One way I navigate feeling emotionally fatigued is to focus on what I can control -- for example, reducing the number of small decisions I need to make during the day. Reducing my wardrobe to only things that spark joy in my life -- things that feel and look good on me. Everything else is out. When I realized there were only a few of these items, I ordered duplicates of each. Essentially I created a uniform for work/play and it has freed up a lot of mental space. Feel free to check out my website (askdan.co) if you're interested in what it looks like. lol. I also prep my coffee pot the night before and when the alarm goes off, I look forward to plugging it in because I know I'll have fresh coffee in 4-7 minutes. Reach out for more :)

I would rather accept that I'm suffering from emotional fatigue. Because denial or ignorance can exacerbate the issue. Moreover, I would need to free from judgement.

This is AI advice is banal: “If you’re boundaries are broken, fix them” duh, really?? Any advice about self care that says or implies “it’s easy, just ____” is ??. It’s damn hard. We all have obligations to self & others. We’re trying to do a good job. There are too many demands and the books just don’t balance. But you CAN have some days where you come first. Some days you suck it up. I like to think about a balance scale, and made a free online one you can play with to consider the demands you’re facing, and what can help you balance those: https://www.6seconds.org/scale

One thing I have found is especially when one has a tendency of being too kind, wanting to please, and that is where we do not take care of our own emotional bank account. We continue to overcare, feeling it is our responsibility unconsciously even, to take on many things from small to big. Overtime, we feel energy depleted and wonder why we are having emotional fatigue. As such, having awareness of our own boundaries are key.

A key thing to rememeber, and this may be difficult for those that tend to be "givers", is that you shouldn't feel guilty or the need to apologize for prioritizing yourself. If you are not in a healthy state then you cannot present yourself in a healthy state to others and this will permeate, even subvertely, a multitude of areas of your life.

I have been blessed enough to be able to seperate what I'm going through emotionally with my job and home especially. I can be going through a lot at home, but when I get to work I do not extend the negative emotions to my work and workplace at large just like how I do not carry work drama to my house. I have somehow managed not to mix emotions or rather switch off negative emotions that may have an effect on environments it should not be affecting. For those that can't I feel recognising and dealing with or eliminating the cause of negative emotional challenges will be crucial even if means seeking professional advice. Emotional intelligence is also important, constantly check on the positive or negative consequences of your actions.

It is important to note that setting boundaries for family and closest friends is the most difficult endeavour but also, the most important one to consider because those closest could be the the cause of one’s emotional fatigue but in most cases they are never aware of their negative contributions to one’s fatigue

When dealing with emotional fatigue, it's crucial to remember that self-care isn’t about forcing oneself into activities or routines that feel burdensome or stressful. Shy away from the mindset of 'must-do' and rather embrace 'would-like-to-do.' Avoid comparing your self-care practices to others and remember that honoring your unique needs and boundaries is paramount. Choosing activities that bring joy, rather than additional pressure, is key to nurturing your emotional wellbeing. Listen to your heart and body, and grant yourself the grace to step away from things that don’t contribute positively to your emotional landscape.

It is inevitable that we can have very busy periods on our lives due to different life circumstances. Such activities such as journaling can be helpful. However what I have noticed is many do it without going deeper to unpack all the baggages causing our emotional fatigue. For example, one can sit in meditation, "emptying the mind". That is good at the start but after coming out from it, one has yet to understand nor resolve what is giving them stress, without time for contemplation. The issues experienced are likely to continue. Making time aside for self discovery is key. In other words, deeper contemplation, to interiorize and pause would be supportive in the process leading to more sustainable times of joyfulness.

It is important to consider rest or doing nothing as part of self care. Where fitness can relax another person, it can increase fatigue in some.

One thing I do is force myself to go out for a walk every morning. At first, I just listened to "Up First" -- a Podcast from NPR -- then turned around and walked back home. The podcast is only around 14 minutes. Now I listen to Up First + any other podcast that looks interesting, e.g., Odd Lots. I don't know much about finance etc, but listening to other folks talk about things that I don't ever discuss/think about in my day-to-day life offers me a break from thinking about my world. I also appreciate that the hosts of Odd Lots are genuinely curious about the topics they're exploring. Sometimes the topics are over my head, but their tone/spirit/energy with each other keeps me coming back. I also like when they reflect at the end :)

I think self-care can also feel like a list of tasks we are failing. Things we "should" be doing that we aren't. I do believe in baby steps. I start by making a list of all the things I love which MAY NOT MATCH AT ALL with the typical self-care activities. I don't want to run or do yoga or..... But I like to walk around the block slowly. I think practicing self-care ties into creating boundaries. Do the self-care that you feel like, that uplifts you, that feels doable now. Don't do the self-care someone else thinks you should. I believe we have to be guided by our own desire and readiness if we want lasting change.

Letting out your feelings is a straightforward but powerful way to beat emotional tiredness. It's like opening a pressure valve and letting all the pent-up steam flow out. You don’t have to do it in big gestures - a simple chat with a friend, a quiet moment to yourself, or even a good cry can make a big difference. It’s all about allowing yourself to feel what you're feeling without judgment or pressure. Small, honest moments of emotional release, like laughing at a funny movie or scribbling down your thoughts on a notepad, can light the path towards feeling a bit lighter and more yourself again. Your emotions are your friends – let them speak, and they’ll help guide you back to peace and strength.

I am passionate about forensics and some of the worst actions come from individuals who kept their emotions in check for years, even decades. Are those people whom neighbors refer to as "they were so nice, never heard them, never bothered me." Having healthy emotional stability means being able to vent, scream, and cry when life throws too many lemons at you at once. Keeping things inside will most probably lead, outside of irreversible stuff from my forensic outlook to chronic depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts or a big disconnect with the outside world.

At work, many employees unappreciated by their manager while expressing your honest emotions. Only very few manager I think take it seriously.

Self care is hard when you have led a life of taking care of others. But eventually, the cost of not taking care of yourself will catch up with you. For me self care means eating in a way that is healthy for me - I fast and eat one meal day. It means getting exercises although I hate it. I've settled on walking! It means getting a good nights rest - no caffeine after 3pm and no social media! And it means my spiritual practice - Im a practising Buddhist and I find my meditation and focussing on kindness and compassion towards myself and all living beings to be the most effective way to take care of myself and to develop myself.

People hide their emotions due to several factors, the fear of being judged, shame, trust issues, trying to be private, afraid of hurting others, not having the right person to express their emotions to, trying to please others etc. It is better to express yourself when you're going through emotional problems rather than waking up in the ICU with anxiety and serious panic attacks. Look for resources that can help you out of your emotions. Find a safe place where you can vent, cry, be it a friend, family member or a specialist who can help you out. I think one of the best solution to emotional fatigue is to communicate your feelings to the one you trust and feel safe with.

Using tough times as stepping stones can be a simple, healing way to navigate through emotional fatigue. Imagine each challenge as a lesson, something that helps you know yourself a little better. It's not about making big changes quickly but taking small, gentle steps towards being kinder to yourself. This could mean recognizing what makes you happy or understanding what wears you out, and taking little steps toward more of the good stuff. Your growth might be as easy as appreciating your own journey and learning a bit from each bump in the road. Every bit of understanding you gain about yourself is a small victory on the way to feeling better.

It is crucial to notice that the algorithms of most popular social media platforms optimize for engagement, which comes from triggering strong emotions in us. This conditions us to make knee-jerk emotional responses. Sometimes it is just better to take a deep breath before acting.

Resilience is the superpower of people who thrive. But it does not always happen naturally. First, one must have an open mindset and give up the fallacy that life is about the pursuit of happiness. We have to figure out what is most important in our lives, what drives us, what makes us fulfilled. And in the pursuit of that we have to acknowledge life will inevitably have ups and downs. The trick to transforming the endless cycle of these ups and downs is to think of it as an upward spiral instead powered by reflection and learning as a lifelong practice. This reflection and learning must follow the good (pleasure, gain, fame, praise) as well as the downs (pain, loss, infamy and blame). And of course cultivate a lifelong learning mindset.

We need to identify the source of emotional fatigue, as such, we would be in a position to mitigate or eliminate them. This might involve making changes in your routine, environment, or relationships that contribute to emotional fatigue.

We have to learn when to coast and when to work at top speed. By focusing on the latter it leads to burnout and emotional distress. I learnt to coast from being a 400m runner. It is one of the toughest track events other than 400m hurdles. As a successful 400m runner, I learnt to set off over the first 100m at top speed. This cannot be sustained, so you coast down the back-straight 100m to keep your early position. Then you ramp up your speed over the next 100m ready for the final charge over the last 100m. You need to utilize the same strategy in your work and personal life. Know when to proceed at top speed and when to coast. That way to will be one of the front runners at the finish.

I think emotional fatigue is a "journey of one." We can read advice and scan for ideas but the big game is learning to listen to ourselves and practicing ignoring the shoulds and advice of others. The more we can honor our own journey, the better.

One of the most effective things I know to address fatigue is to stop focussing on myself and see how I can help others. Just connecting with people, listening to them with with total attention and empathy, and helping out - with a word, with an action, or just by being present - stops our constantr self-obsession and links up with the kindness and compassion that we are all capable of to some degree. Not only does it give you a respite from ruminating over your own problems, but it makes you realise that everyone is struggling with their own burdens, and that connecting with others is mental release of negative emotional energy.. We are after all, social animals.

Most important is learning to let go. Not everything is worth taking on emotionally. So work on increasing emotional resilience. Pick your battles.

If emotional fatigue persists and significantly affects your daily life, consider seeking guidance from a mental health professional, such as a therapist or counsellor. Take Breaks: Incorporate short breaks throughout your day to reset your mind. Stepping away from tasks, even for a few minutes, can improve focus and reduce emotional strain. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself and avoid self-criticism. Understand that emotional fatigue is a normal human experience, and you deserve care and compassion.