We all know what “energy” means in the physical sense, and we’ve all had the sensation of having a lot or a lack of it. Physical energy, on the other hand, is not the same as mental energy. What is mental energy, exactly?
Mental energy is a state of mind and a measure of one’s readiness to engage in cognitive activities.
You will feel driven, efficient, and focused when dealing with assignments if you have a lot of mental energy. You may believe that you are capable of taking on more and that you can hurl yourself into a situation without feeling stressed or anxious.
Unfortunately, in today’s hectic world, you may be more familiar with the sense of being mentally exhausted. Return to a situation where you are juggling multiple things; your career is demanding, and your personal life is emotionally draining.
This is the sensation of mental exhaustion. You may have felt on the point of burnout, procrastinated, and felt as if you couldn’t take on any more emotional or cognitive chores.
Before it becomes mental tiredness, you must address a loss of mental energy. Let’s look at the signs and symptoms of mental tiredness, as well as the impact it might have on your life.
Signs of Mental Exhaustion
Here are the mental, physical, and behavioral signs of exhaustion
Mental Signs
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lack of motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anger
Physical Signs
- Headache
- Body aches
- Change in appetite
- Weight loss or gain?
- Increased illness
Behavioral Signs
- Poor performance at work
- Social withdrawal
- Inability to keep to commitments
- Increased time off sick at work
- The signs of mental exhaustion are less than desirable, and you should reiterate the importance of maintaining your mental energy and do not let it be an afterthought.
How to Maintain a High Level of Mental Energy
The approach is everything when it comes to maintaining mental vigor. We can’t always control our circumstances or the number of tasks we’re working on at any given time.
We can, however, manage and sustain our mental health and mental vitality throughout these moments. Our mental energy, like our physical energy, can be maintained in a variety of ways.
Let us now look at some of the practical strategies that can assist us in maintaining a high level of mental energy beginning today.
1. Get Adequate Sleep
Sleep may not seem like the most obvious way to maintain a high level of mental energy, but it is crucial.
There are two types of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement), which is when you dream, and Non-REM (non-rapid-eye movement). Non-REM sleep is separated into three stages, with deep sleep being the final state. Scientists believe that deep sleep is when your body renews and restores itself, and it is also the most critical stage for energy maintenance.
You may create healthy sleep hygiene in a variety of ways. These include spending time away from gadgets before bed, ceasing caffeine consumption a few hours before bedtime, and going to bed and waking up at the same time.
2. Structure Your Day
Structuring your day can be applied to both your personal and professional lives. The trick is to prioritize the most critical chores so that you can rest assured that they will be accomplished even if you run out of time. If you don’t do this, you risk overworking yourself, staying late at work, or completing home chores late at night.
This could mean doing the dishes first or cleaning the house before sitting down to relax at home. You can make a list of your daily duties at work and then prioritize them from greatest to lowest priority.
Each task can be checked off when you do it. Any chores that have not been performed can be carried over to the next day. Furthermore, if you are nearing the end of your supply,
3. Eat Well
It is critical to eat healthy for both physical and mental wellness. Eating a well-balanced diet and particular foods can help you sustain mental energy by aiding memory, concentration, and focus.
Let’s look at some foods that can help with this:
- Wholegrains can improve concentration and focus as they provide a steady supply of energy throughout the day.
- Blueberries can boost short-term memory as they contain protective compounds called anthocyanins.
- Blackcurrants can reduce anxiety and stress as they contain vitamin C, which is widely thought to increase mental agility.
- Pumpkin seeds can enhance memory and boost mood as they are rich in magnesium, B vitamins, and tryptophan, which are believed to be important in serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that has a positive impact on mood.
4. Get Some Fresh Air
Going outside can be beneficial to one’s mental health. To gain the benefits, you don’t have to go on a ten-mile walk. Simply being outside in the garden, taking a walk in the countryside, or going for a fast walk to the store can boost mental energy.
Spending time outside has been demonstrated in studies to help with anxiety and depression. It also promotes relaxation and can boost self-esteem and confidence.
5. Take a Break
Taking a break every now and then, whether at work or when completing any other task, can help you retain a high level of mental energy and attention when you need it the most.
A break can be as simple as getting up from your desk and changing your environment for a few minutes, such as going to make a cup of tea or taking a lunchtime stroll around the block rather than staying in the office.
This change of scenery distracts you from your work, rejuvenates you, and reenergizes you. The task at hand can then be completed to the best of your skills without becoming mentally exhausted.
6. Exercise Your Brain
Challenging your brain is similar to exercising your body in terms of what it can do for your intellect. Physical activity can help you feel more energized, just as exercising your brain can help you feel more energized mentally.
You can exercise your brain in a variety of ways, including:
- Exercises that engage the mind and improve intelligence are both beneficial.
- Learn something new to provide your brain with new challenges.
- Multiple parts of the brain are stimulated by social interaction. With each action, the variety of activities involved in socializing stimulates distinct parts of the brain.
7. Meditate
Meditation has been demonstrated in studies to offer numerous benefits for the brain. Improvements in brain function and energy levels are just a few of the advantages.
According to one study, just 25 minutes of meditation every day can deliver this benefit. This is because meditation has been shown to enhance blood flow to the brain and release endorphins.
When you meditate, you focus your attention on your breathing with the goal of clearing your mind of all distractions. This gives your brain a much-needed break, boosting your mental energy levels.
Is Your Low-Energy Life Destroying Your Productivity?
Do you find yourself constantly fatigued and unable to recall what it’s like to be energized? Perhaps you begin your day feeling foggy as you struggle to get out of bed, and then you feel awful the rest of the day.
If this describes you, you’ll understand how a low-energy lifestyle degrades your performance and productivity.
Supplements for energy
Because of its brain and energy-boosting effects, energy supplements are becoming more sought after and extensively used among productivity seekers and life hack fans.
Lifehack has teamed up with In fuel to bring you these specially developed energy supplements:
- Mixed vitamins might help you remember things and focus better.
- Fish oil can aid in cognitive enhancement and the reduction of chronic inflammation.
- Turmeric can help to prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s disease, as well as alleviate depression and inflammation.
- Probiotics can benefit both your brain and digestive health.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, many people suffer a lack of mental energy, and it is possibly more prevalent than the feeling of having a lot of energy. When you see signs of a lack of mental energy, act quickly before the symptoms deepen and turn into mental tiredness.
The good news is that you can take simple actions to maintain a high level of mental energy, which is just as vital as keeping a high level of physical energy.
These actions are simple enough to implement into your regular routine. It’s as simple as that: eat well, sleep well, get some fresh air, take a break, challenge your intellect, arrange your day, and meditate.