Group Discussions

Running out of mental energy

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  What do you do when your brain crashes?
  
  I am being serious. I usually go 100 miles an hour on all fronts, and then collapse for some sleep. But I am in some kind of a funk today - I know what I have to get done, I know how to do it, but I just don't find the mental energy for it. And I even slept 6 hours last night, a big one for me.
  
  Ideas? Does this happen to you? Suggestions?

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 11th September 2007
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  I give in and screw around for a little while. If I'm feeling virtuous I'll go clean something or work on something else. If not, I'll surf TMZ and the Fug Girls.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kimberly on 12th September 2007
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  I'll second what Kimberly said. I give myself permission to screw around for a bit. Usually that screwing around includes going for a walk in the woods. Fresh air and small projects where I see almost immediate progress always motivates me.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by KathyHowe on 12th September 2007
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  Yerba Matte - it's a tea that improves concentration. Don't buy regular matte, it tastes like dirt. buy chocolate flavor or orange spice or something, anything, that will cover up the taste. Then it tastes great and works wonders. Careful not to drink too much, it makes you have to pee.
  
  Ginko - put me through law school. Seriously.
  
  Run or walk or something for 10 minutes.
  
  Talk to someone who is excited about what you do. 10 year olds are great here.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by jlauren on 15th September 2007
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  Thanks, guys - great suggestions!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 17th September 2007
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  jlauren,
  
  so true so true! 10 year olds are great at getting pumped about things that we can't seem to get excited about in the moment. I'll have to remember that one!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 17th September 2007
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  When I am like this, that is, trying to get 'everything done' I usually find that what I start I can't finish, what I have planned doesn't eventuate, and that finally, I am just flat like a dead battery. Kaput!
  I've learned to take notice of the energy accumulating, and to put brakes on early. Prevention is better than finding a suitable cure.
  
  I ask myself
  'Can I physically, in this reality NOW, find the time and energy to complete (insert task here).'
  and if the answer comes back 'No, you can't', then I release it. Let it go and move on to tomorrow.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jannette Tibbs on Tuesday
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  Sometimes I think we think so much about one thing and put in SO MUCH ENERGY you forget to recharge and you are just out of juice!
  
  It’s funny, I tend to be that '10 year old' who is really good at rallying everyone else, but I have a hard time doing it for myself! lol! Sometimes you have to just go back and look at some of the great things you have done or work on something completely different, something that is a bit more creative. This allows the overtaxed part of your brain to rest and your underused part to get a little exercise! Win-win!
  
  In my case, sometimes I just need to TALK, like in person, to a live human. Even though I work in an office, some days I am just stuck in my cube working on my computer. alone. all. day. yuck!
  
  But taking a 10 minute lap around the office to ‘socialize’ or walk to starbucks will snap me back into YAY THIS IS FUN mode again and I get all re-motivated!
  
  Good luck! And whenever you need that cheerleader/10yearold rah rah rah person you just let me know

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on Tuesday
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  I find surfing takes up too much time. If I'm feeling foggy and non-productive then it must be time to clean off my desk. I pretty much assume the day is toast and so I try and get something brainless done. Filing is also good. Or I'll do something really low on my to do list, you know, the nice to do vs the need to do. Or I'll do something that I'd really like to dig into but isn't a priority yet. Take a break at some point and get the urgent stuff on your list done but give yourself permission to be foggy for a day. Maybe you'll snap out of it, but if you don't, you can still feel you've been productive.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenns on Saturday
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  I am feeling like that right this very minute. I ping-ponged back and forth between my two youngest all night -- one or the other was up every couple of hours -- then have been cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, re-cleaning (why do I even bother to clean up behind a 3 year old and a 1 year old?) bundling the kids up to take them to play outside in the sun, un-bundling them so they can pee -- and all before feeding them lunch. I'm grouchy, I just snapped at my husband for having the nerve to sit down and read the paper (how dare he do that when I'm too busy even to finish the cup of coffee I started drinking 5 hours ago?), put the little two down for naps, came back downstairs and apologized to my husband for being cranky at him, and, as the words were coming out of my mouth, realised that I needed a break.
  
  So I logged on here.
  
  I love coming here to recharge... everyone has good ideas, there are interesting things to discuss or questions to answer, and I can always relate to something that's being said.
  
  Thank you, ladies!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on Saturday