Why are we exhausted even after a ‘normal’ 9 to 6 workday? Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something I keep hearing from peers and i too feel the same somedays: “I didn’t do much today, but I feel completely drained.” We’re not building roads. Not lifting boxes. So what’s tiring us out? Turns out, mental fatigue hits harder when your mind is constantly switching lanes—from back-to-back meetings, Slack pings, emails, presentations, strategy thinking, last-minute calls, and context-switching 20 times a day. And now, the brutal summer heat is adding another layer of exhaustion. Here’s what’s really going on: 🧠 Cognitive Overload Our brains aren’t meant to juggle 15 micro-decisions an hour while also trying to stay creative, focused, and available. 📱 Always-On Culture Even “breaks” aren’t real breaks anymore. We scroll through content, jump between notifications, or half-work during lunch. 😰 Invisible Pressure There’s a silent race to always appear productive. We hesitate to say “I need a break,” as if rest equals weakness. 🎯 Too Much Input, Not Enough Output We consume information all day, but rarely get time to process, reflect, or create something meaningful. The result? We end the day depleted, yet feel like we didn’t get “enough” done. The fix isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter and more humanly: ✳️ Protect deep work hours ✳️ Normalize doing one thing at a time ✳️ Take guilt-free mental pauses ✳️ Treat your brain like a battery, not an unlimited power source 💬 Curious to hear from others: What’s one thing you’ve changed to fight mental fatigue in your workday? #WorkCulture #MentalWellbeing #CognitiveFatigue #Productivity #MindfulWork #DigitalWellness #BurnoutPrevention