3 Types of Fatigue

Burnout is more than just a buzzword—it is a reality many of us are struggling to avoid at home and work. In fact, Forbes recently highlighted a new study that revealed that job burnout is at 66%—an “all-time high” in the United States. And a 2024 report released by the Alzheimer’s Association stated that two in three of unpaid adult caregivers “have difficulty finding resources and support for their needs.” Living in a constant state of stress gradually depletes the time and energy that are necessary to prep nutritious meals and exercise regularly. 

Is there a particular type of fatigue weighing you down? Use this short list as a reflection tool to gain clarity about common behavior patterns that can worsen anxiety, insomnia and other health issues.  

Screen Fatigue 

TV. Smartphone. Computer. Tablet. How many of these devices do you have? How many hours do you spend using them a day? Whether for business or pleasure, spending a half (or more) of the hours we are awake each day glued to screens negatively impacts our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. To lessen the tendency to be “plugged in” from dawn to dusk, consider adopting the 20-20 method: for every 20 minutes on screen, spend at least 20 seconds focusing on something 20 or more feet away across the room or even out a window. Another idea is to combine movement with screenless recreation by doing walking meditations outdoors or listening to an audiobook while doing household chores. 

Social Fatigue 

Minimizing social fatigue sounds easy, but people pleasing can be a hard habit to break. A good first step is identifying the supportive folks and safe spaces where you feel comfortable expressing your true feelings. Prioritize spending time with individuals who leave you feeling rejuvenated or joyful in their company. The same goes for those you can simply spend time with in comfortable silence. So, periodically do an inventory of your relationships, then take a break as needed from those that seem to drain your time, energy or money. 

Decision Fatigue  

Decision fatigue happens because “by the time the average person goes to bed, they’ve made over 35,000 decisions and all of those decisions take time and energy, and certainly can deplete us. … And a lot of these decisions you are not consciously making,” explained psychiatrist Dr. Lisa MacLean in this interview last month with the American Medical Association. For example, “you open the refrigerator door and sometimes the only thing that’s in there is bagels and that’s (now) a pretty easy decision.” 

It is normal for our minds to be preoccupied with all our daily responsibilities, especially for those who live alone or provide the main source of income for their household. Decreasing the number of decisions that need to be made every day by meal planning, batch cooking or pre-scheduling when you will work out each week are helpful in reducing this type of mental strain. 

Personally, I’ve been working on lessening the effects of social fatigue on my mental health for about 18 months. What, or who, tends to heighten a feeling of exhaustion for you? Discuss with other members in a chapter meeting or share your answer here via the comment box below. 

Make it an AMAZING rest of April! 

~Rachel