A constant chant that trickles into most of my conversations is the whisper, “I’m so tired”. Because I don’t do a lot of physical activities, it leads me to wonder where this feeling comes from.
Mentally, I overthink and under sleep so my cycle of mental exhaustion is often vicious. I ask if I’m burnt out or simply lazy for feeling drained all the time. These questions lead to further questions on how to deal with the feeling.
I have to admit, there was a little respite from the knowledge that I’m not alone. My friends also feel drained a lot, and this led me on a quest to find activities we could try to recharge.
Five Activities to Try When You Feel Drained
Even though we all have days when we’re exhausted, constantly feeling run down and tired isn’t normal. The list below is a curation of five activities you could try when you feel drained.
Find ways to interact with nature.
As an indoor ambassador, I can spend days in the house without stepping a foot out. Often, I avoid activities that take me outside for the sun to touch my skin on purpose. When my tiredness is at an all time high, I go out immediately to look at plants and touch them. If I’m in a place where there are no plants, I find a space to sit and enjoy the breeze.
Spending time outside reduces stress and rejuvenates your mind and body. I recommend looking up at the sky at least once during the day or even at night. Look out for the different shades of blue or the blinking stars, you’d find something new.
Free write whatever comes to mind in a journal.
As a certified yapper, sitting to journal without planning helps me relax. It serves as a means to unravel knots in my brain and let my words flow. When I write like this, I do away with journal prompts and start with any sentence that pops into my mind first.
As Michael G. Scott succinctly put it,
“Sometimes I’ll start a sentence, and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way. Like an improv conversation, an improversation.”
Free writing is all about putting pen to paper and writing down whatever words come out. It does not matter if what you write makes sense or not, you “just do it.” There’s no pressure to discover anything or get your grammar right.
Select an activity you enjoy, and do it.
Making stickers for my journal helps me relax. With my stack of printed pictures, scissors, parchment paper and clear tape, I’m good to go. The entire process grounds me and makes time go by quickly.
Another thing I do is watch anime, slice-of-life to be precise. There’s something about their beautiful visuals and simple stories that makes me happy. The humour and warmth present in most shows will do wonders for your mood.
Allow yourself to do nothing i.e rest.
Naps are quite rejuvenating. I might not sleep for a long time, but like staring at the sky, I stare at my ceiling or lay down and close my eyes. A lunchtime or early afternoon nap for 15 to 30 minutes can provide a valuable energy boost for most people.
I have thrown the guilt I once felt for taking time off away. Yes, closing my eyes might lure me to sleep but it’s worth it. Especially when I wake up feeling refreshed and life feels good again.z
Express love to someone or something.
Kindness is one feel good emotion that can never go out of style. Smiling at a kid on the bus, hugging my mum or delivering baked goods to a neighbour, sign me up please.
If your friends live close by, plan visits to exist in silence and breathe. Hanging out with friends gives you that sense of belonging and a regular dose of dopamine.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced world, being busy has become something to be proud of. The more things you have on your plate, the louder the praises you receive. Meanwhile, a hectic lifestyle is exhausting.
Try to carve out a few more hours in your week to simply relax and hang out. You could try any of the activities listed above and tell me all about it. What other activities do you try when you feel drained?
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