Are You Feeling Mentally Exhausted?
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The holidays are over, and a new year has begun. Are you beginning the year exhausted, not just physically but mentally as well? Exhaustion comes physically from using your body past its limits and not resting or taking breaks from your vigorous schedule. The body will tell you that you have overworked it, and if you do not rest, the body will make you physically sick to force the rest.
But mental exhaustion is not seen nor easily recognized. It will make your body tired, too. Mental exhaustion is caused by a variety of factors. One of the reasons is taking on responsibilities and roles that are not yours nor having the gifts or abilities to do them. You use more mental energy trying to figure things out. The way to deal with this type of exhaustion is to ask for help and find people who have the ability to walk with you through it.
When you live in the expectations of others and always try to please everyone you will become mentally exhausted. The expectations will be impossible to meet, and you live your life how others want you to live. You are never yourself nor do you take care of yourself and your needs. In this new year, begin to release other people’s control on your mental health. Accept people for who they are and set boundaries of what you will do and not do. Do not assume you have to make everyone else happy at your own expense. Be realistic about what you can do. You are not defined by someone’s perspective or view. You are defined by who you were created to be.
Be you. Live your life with boundaries. You do not need to absorb other people and their emotions. You were not created to fix other people. Do not allow others to control you with their expectations.
Another way to release mental exhaustion is letting go of making excuses and trying to explain. Your thoughts are in overdrive trying to create these excuses and explain why you cannot do something. You become exhausted going over and over in your head whether the excuse will be accepted and does it sound valid. Just state the facts and simplify your thoughts. If you do not want to do something, you do not need to make an excuse or come up with an acceptable excuse. Just say “no.” Then release yourself from any guilt.
You may be exhausted from the guilt you have placed on yourself for not doing everything you expect yourself to do. You are putting a load on yourself you were never meant to carry. Ask for help when you need it. Release things out of your control. It is not your job to save the world.
Another cause for exhaustion is your anxiety and fear. You worry about what could happen, how others perceive you, if you did enough, what you should have said, and a million other worries. Your thoughts never stop, and you wake up in the night wondering if you did enough. You may not be sleeping well, which adds to the physical and mental exhaustion. Your brain needs rest.
Make yourself and your mental health a priority in this new year. Release what is not your responsibility. Live within realistic expectations of yourself. Ask for help when the load becomes too heavy. Pray and discern what is really important. Your value is not in doing more. Your value and worth is being the best you that you were created to be. Give yourself rest physically and mentally. Find ways to relax your thoughts.
Elaine J. Sturtz
Living In The Different
