ដឹងហើយគឺចឹងសោះ! Why You Always Feel So Tired Even After Rest

Iused to go home and just lie on the sofa after work to rest. Later, I wanted to spend more time for self-improvement. Unfortunately, the only time I had to cut into was my “rest” time, which I started replacing with actions like exercising and reading books instead. To my surprise, I didn’t feel more tired. It actually made me feel more refreshed! When I looked into what “rest” really is I found that it’s a poorly understood subject, and why many people often feel tired even if they “rest” a lot.

Letting your mind run free is the quickest path to exhaustion

Most people tend to define rest as:

• Lounging on the sofa or laying in bed
• Doing nothing (is that even possible?)
• “Netflix and chill”
• Not doing chores

And while your body is in a relaxed posture your mind isn’t. Rest is a mental activity, not just a physical one.  When you engage in the activities like those in the list above, you encourage mental activity that is counterproductive to rest.

Mindlessly watching television, browsing the internet or reading tweets isn’t mindless at all.This type of mental engagement and stimulation can actually leave you more tired than you were initially. Your brain is not only quietly processing all that you are taking in, it is also preparing for and encouraging you to socialize¹. A recent study² found that when the brain isn’t actively engaged in a conscious activity, it shifts into a state of prep for social interaction with others.

Another important fact to consider is that the brain needs something to focus on in order to achieve a state of symbiotic rest. It needs a purpose. Think about an activity requiring very little focus and attention–such as showering. Most times you are thinking about other things and your mind is busy working out problems and connecting dots. This type of mental activity is necessary and beneficial but it chases away rest. Letting your mind run free is the quickest path to exhaustion.