Is it just laziness or mental fatigue? Here’s how to tell what’s exhaustion

We had a school group reunion a few weeks ago which turned out to be eye-opening regarding mental health. We met at our friend Shyam’s place, the guy we all remembered as the star of our class. He was the kind of person who excelled at every test, led school events and participated in sports. We were all excited and nervous for the reunion to say the least.

On the day of the party, as each of us arrived at Shyam’s place, our old buddy greeted us, one by one. However, after a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries, he sank into the couch, seemingly tired. He kept watching his phone and looked generally disinterested. His wife playfully nudged him, saying, “At least for today, get off the couch, Shyam. God, you are so lazy.” We all laughed, but I was a little surprised. Shyam and lazy? That did not sound like the guy we knew from school.

As the day progressed, Shyam opened up about how drained he felt all the time. Juggling work, family responsibilities and life’s googlies had clearly taken a toll on him. He felt drained, both mentally and emotionally.

This conversation stayed with me even after we left the party that night. It made me think about how what we perceive as laziness can actually be a sign of exhaustion sometimes.

According to research published in the journal Nature Communications, mental exhaustion can lead to decision paralysis and reduced motivation, mimicking what we often mistake as laziness. A lot of us feel low on energy and become disinterested in exercising, going out or just doing anything at all. Although this may appear to be laziness, on a deeper level, it can be a sign of mental fatigue.

Mental Health Awareness Week is celebrated between 12th and 15th May every year. This week is dedicated to encouraging open conversations around mental health, reminding us that mental wellbeing is extremely important. It encourages us to check on loved ones and also seek help when needed. So, join us as we explore how laziness might be a sign of mental fatigue and how you can help yourself from getting trapped in a never-ending cycle of fatigue.

Differentiate mental fatigue from laziness

One of the first things to remember while understanding mental fatigue is that it doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It can quietly seep into your daily life and change the way you function. For some, it may look like being disinterested in activities that one usually enjoys doing, while for others, it may feel like a weight that makes even simple everyday tasks feel overwhelming.

One of the most common and misunderstood signs of mental fatigue is a drop in motivation that resembles laziness. One might find oneself not showing interest in hobbies they once loved, procrastinating more than usual. Or one may observe an increase in spending time scrolling down the phone aimlessly or on the couch instead of doing things that need attention.

In identifying this problem, it is important to remember that it’s not that the person doesn’t care, it might be that their mind is overloaded and they need help.

Pay attention to the early signs

Mental exhaustion is something that builds gradually, often going unnoticed until it starts affecting one’s daily life. Thus, recognising the early signs can be really helpful to address the problem. Some common warning signs include constant tiredness despite sleeping well, difficulty in concentrating, short temper and emotional numbness. One may also find oneself withdrawn from social interactions or feeling overwhelmed with tasks that are usually a part of their routine.

A paper published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology notes that mental fatigue makes individuals less capable of regulating emotions and planning. Such people may forget appointments and even lose track of conversations. It’s important to pay attention and look out for what these signs actually mean though—it doesn’t always mean laziness and can be a case of mental exhaustion that needs to be addressed.

Listen to your body signals

A lot of us often push through exhaustion without a pause, dismissing the signals we receive mentally and physically, considering them as signs of weakness or a lack of discipline. But mental fatigue is the mind’s way of saying that it needs a break. When we find ourselves feeling disconnected, constantly tired and unmotivated, it is important to stop and pause. If our mind and body are constantly sending us signals to rest, we must listen. As the renowned American author Eleanor Brownn states, “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

Brownn talks about the importance of rest and stresses on the fact that rest is essential if we want to be present, helpful and supportive to others. Just like a cup that is empty cannot serve, we too, cannot help ourselves or others if we are drained and exhausted.

Remove the misplaced guilt

One of the most damaging effects of mental fatigue is that it brings with it a lot of misplaced guilt. When we find ourselves needing rest or perhaps struggling to keep up, we are labelled by others as lazy. Some may even call us unmotivated—this has much to do with the fact that society often glorifies productivity and working. In such a scenario, it’s the guilt that adds to the exhaustion, thus trapping us in a cycle.

At this point, it is important to remove guilt from the equation. Do not be ashamed for taking a break or rest because we need to reset from time to time as humans. Most importantly, taking a break makes us more productive. It does not make us a failure.

Recharge with small, consistent changes

Another important aspect to remember while combating mental fatigue is that one doesn’t need a complete overhaul to begin recovering from it. Small but consistent changes can make a difference. One can start by setting boundaries, saying no when needed and knowing when to protect one’s time and energy.

Further, by prioritising quality sleep, hydrating, eating nutritious meals and taking short breaks throughout the day, a person dealing with mental fatigue can replenish one’s depleted energy. Another great way to heal slowly but surely is  to spend time doing activities that one loves, be it gardening, reading or painting. Research from the Journal of Health Psychology shows that even short periods of mindfulness or time in nature can help reduce mental fatigue, improving one’s mood.

Know when to seek help

Sometimes mental fatigue goes beyond what rest and self-care can fix. If one finds themselves feeling persistently drained, detached and unable to function, maybe it is time for them to seek professional help.

As mental fatigue is often misunderstood as laziness, one must try to pause, listen and reflect on what signals the mind and body are constantly sending one’s way. Mental fatigue is real; it is valid and treatable. And remember, healing does not happen all at once, every small act of care steadily improves one’s mental wellbeing.