Decision Fatigue

Your Brain's Need for Space

Have you ever experienced decision fatigue? That fuzzy brain feeling where simple decisions feels overwhelming? It's very real and quite exhausting - staring into space, mind blank.

Our brain isn't a machine built for 24/7 operation, yet we treat it like one. Our non-stop drive, digital addiction, information overload, and lack of real mental breaks quietly sabotage our sense of well-being and performance. Despite pushing harder, we feel we're underachieving. A nagging 'should, must, ought to' beats its steady, dull rhythm.

The Hidden Cost of Perpetual Engagement

I've found myself struggling with this - still do at times - and I see it often in my clients. The pattern is unmistakable: an endless cycle of pushing through mental exhaustion, only to find ourselves further from our natural state of clarity and purpose.

Our brain is begging for a break. A real one.

The science illuminates what we intuitively know: Your default mode network (DMN) becomes active when you step back from focused tasks. This network helps you process experiences, reflect, and make new mental connections. That's why insights often come when you're in the shower or taking a walk – your mind gets space to integrate information in ways that intense focus sometimes can't achieve.

Think of your prefrontal cortex as your brain's CEO. When it's always on, it depletes - like driving a car straight through empty. Whether it's a mindful coffee break, a weekend off, or a vacation, your brain isn't just chilling – it's processing and integrating experiences. These moments of reduced external focus allow your brain to strengthen neural pathways and restore mental energy.

Beyond Surface-Level Solutions

A coffee break glued to your phone scrolling mindlessly will not do the trick. True restoration requires genuine disconnection - a deliberate step away from the constant hum of digital engagement and mental demands.

Did I hear you say you can't? What if you could? Pay attention to your reasons for not taking breaks. Then challenge them. Is it true? Are they valid?

I admit it can feel impossible to take real breaks. And sometimes it is, but not always. Sometimes we make up excuses – afraid of potential cost or of what people may think. BTW - it is none of our business what people are thinking, and we can never accommodate everybody else's needs anyway. Check in on your concerns and worries and see what you might change to take better care of yourself.

The Courage to Restore

I also know it pays off in buckets to step away, break a pattern, shift your mindset and get back into your true, vibrant, alive self!

I am doing this right now. Taking a long break to recharge and reconnect. It took courage to make this decision, but I know it's exactly what my brain and creativity need.

What can you let go of to give your brain a break?

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