Physical exhaustion is pretty apparent. Spend the day physically exerting yourself, and you’re going to feel it when it’s time to go to bed and certainly the next morning when your muscles are stiff and sore. In the same way, getting an injury or illness alerts the body that it needs rest to recover. It’s safe to say your body needs rest and it usually lets you know.
The mind needs rest as well. The mind can get exhausted from over-use and taxing experiences. From over-thinking to struggling to work out complex problems, the mind is like a muscle and it needs rest. You may already know the signs that your mind typically needs some rest. They can be as unique as your circumstances but there may be some signs your mind needs rest that you haven’t considered.
3 Signs Your Mind Needs Rest
1. Feeling confused and experiencing forgetfulness – Our minds have an amazing capacity to multi-task. Our minds can manage complex tasks and operate with great detail. Our minds are made to create, problem solve, and make decisions with ease. Under most circumstances, our minds can handle a lot without caving into the pressure. Until they can’t.
Working out complex problems or being in a heightened state of awareness can create weariness over time. One of the ways our minds express being tired and weary is through bouts of forgetfulness or confusion. Aside from a medical issue like dementia, tired minds tend to suffer from “brain fog” which can be tied directly to being too tired.
2. Lack of enthusiasm for things you generally enjoy – When our minds are tired, even the things we love lose some of their appeal. Overworking your mind pushes out enjoyment for things you love to make room for the overload of things that are front and center. A tired mind can’t enjoy the moment if it is worried about yesterday or tomorrow.
If you are experiencing a lack of interest for things you generally love, it could be an indicator your mind needs to rest. It might be more important than ever to engage in activities that you enjoy and that stimulate your mind in a restful way.
3. Feeling overwhelmed, agitated, and resentful – Being overwhelmed can cause the mind to swirl. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to bouts of anger and resentment towards others. In the absence of stress, your nature might be very pleasing and engaging, but too much stress and too much to think about can change your attitude.
Whether you are coming off a difficult project, used a ton of brain power, or you have been through an emotional crisis, your mind might need a mental break to restore and rejuvenate.
Our minds are amazing, but they do have limits. Knowing when you’ve reached your emotional limit and being able to rest and rejuvenate can make all the difference in your quality of life. Look out for the signs that your mind needs rest so you can take the appropriate action.
