Mental Fatigue

Amid covid, there is a ‘pandemic fatigue’ or mental fatigue or brain fog. what is mental fatigue and how not to get affected by it.

                                                                                           Written by: Meher Fatima

Mental Fatigue is when your brain feels exhausted. You feel drained and unable to continue to function like you used to. There is a want for going on some vacation or finding relaxing entertainment.

For some time or to some extent this mental fatigue can be tolerated. But if not taken care of it can have terrible consequences on personal and professional life.

It generally comes in when there are some uncertain situations, a high level of stress, and a demanding lifestyle for which you tend to compete and work hard.

Mental fatigue is also known as brain fog. It tends to make things appear hazy and obscure.

When your brain becomes overstimulated, it tends to affect your cognitive abilities negatively. This has a direct effect on memory, decision-making skills, and overall productivity. It would become difficult for you to retain your attention span due to brain fog. It also manipulates your concentration and ability to function with an active mind.

Even day-to-day activities like sending an email or doing the dishes might seem lethargic due to brain fatigue.

The main trigger which stimulates mental fatigue is stress. It is a result of prolonged stress that sometimes you don’t even get aware of until it is too late.

One common prolonged stress that we all are facing these days is the covid and its deadly attack. Covid has disturbed our social, economic, and educational. It has brought an increase in cases of mental issues. It has brought in mental fatigue as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes this as ‘pandemic fatigue’ as it is spreading so fast.

So, here is my concern. Before covid stress creates brain fog, make sure you sustain yourself by taking the following measures.

1.     Take care of yourself by engaging in practices that bring you true joy and happiness. These activities could be reading, watching something interesting, meditation, or a brisk walk out in nature. Anything that you enjoy doing is a source of relaxation for your mind. It boosts up your brain chemicals and prevents brain fog.

2.     Any physical activity like regular exercise minimizes the effect of mental fatigue. The more you engage in physical activities, the more productive you start feeling. It improves blood circulation and makes you sleep better.

3.     Eating healthy food and drinking plenty of water is what we often hear as a recommendation but still few of us follow it religiously. What your body consumes has a direct effect on your mental health. So, eat fibrous food and keep yourself hydrated to eliminate the toxins from your body. 

4.     Make sure you sleep well. Good sleep has a positive effect on the mind and body. 

5.     Keep yourself organized, be goal-oriented, and be less distracted. 

It is very easy to ignore the symptoms of mental fatigue until they become devastating. So, make sure you take care of yourself and engage in healthy and productive activities. Covid is for all of us so don’t take its stress alone.

Meher Fatima is a writer with precision and clarity in every piece of information she brings