I’m Tired of Being Tired, but Life Doesn’t Exactly Pause for Me

When you’re mentally exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, and still trying to be a functioning adult.

Can I admit something?

Sometimes I’m just tired.

Not the kind of tired where you need a good night’s sleep.

I’m talking about that deep, mentally and emotionally exhausted kind of tired.

The kind where your brain has been running nonstop, your emotions are all over the place, and even the smallest responsibilities suddenly feel enormous.

And the frustrating part? Life doesn’t exactly stop because you’re overwhelmed.

There’s still work.

Responsibilities.

People who need things from you.

And about a million thoughts running through your head.

Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to remember what I walked into the room for. 🙃

I’m Really Good at Pushing Myself Too Far

I’ve noticed something about myself.

I have a habit of telling myself I can handle just one more thing.

One more task.

One more responsibility.

One more thing to cross off my never-ending mental to-do list.

I work in retail, I’m building my own creative business, and my brain is constantly thinking about what I should be doing next.

Even when I’m supposed to be relaxing, I’m thinking about another blog post I could write, a design I want to finish, or something I forgot to do.

Apparently, my brain missed the memo that rest is allowed.

And because I struggle with anxiety and overthinking, everything can feel ten times more exhausting than it probably needs to be.

Sometimes I don’t even realize how overwhelmed I am until I reach that point where one tiny inconvenience makes me want to cry.

Then, of course, I feel guilty for getting overwhelmed.

Because why wouldn’t my brain add another problem to the list? 😂

I Keep Thinking I Need to Earn a Break

This is something I’m trying to unlearn.

I have this ridiculous belief that I need to finish everything before I’m allowed to relax.

But here’s the thing.

Everything is never finished.

There’s always another chore, another responsibility, another idea, another task.

And if I keep waiting until my entire to-do list is completed, I’m probably never going to rest.

Sometimes I need to remind myself that taking a nap, playing a cozy game, spending time with my pets, or doing absolutely nothing doesn’t make me lazy.

It makes me human.

I’m allowed to have days when my biggest accomplishment is simply getting through the day.

Even if my inner critic strongly disagrees.

Maybe I Don’t Need to Keep Pushing So Hard

I think one of the hardest lessons I’m learning in my 30s is that I can’t keep treating myself like a machine.

I can’t constantly give my energy to work, responsibilities, other people, and my creative projects without eventually feeling drained.

And honestly, I don’t want to get to the point where I’m so exhausted that I stop enjoying the things I love.

I started creating because it made me happy.

Writing helped me process my thoughts.

Art gave me a little escape from the noise in my head.

I don’t want those things to become another source of pressure.

So I’m trying something different.

Instead of asking myself how much more I can accomplish, I’m trying to ask:

What do I actually have the energy for today?

Maybe it’s finishing one task instead of five.

Maybe it’s taking a short walk.

Maybe it’s putting my phone down and giving my brain a break.

Or maybe it’s admitting that I need more support instead of pretending I can manage everything alone.

A Little Reminder to Myself

I’m still learning that being strong doesn’t mean constantly pushing through exhaustion.

Sometimes strength means admitting that you’re struggling.

Sometimes it means saying no.

Sometimes it means doing the bare minimum and letting that be enough.

And sometimes it means taking care of yourself before you reach your breaking point.

I don’t need to prove how much I can handle by running myself into the ground.

Neither do you.

Life might not pause for us, but maybe we can find little moments to pause for ourselves.

I’m still figuring out how to do that.

Still overthinking.

Still occasionally ignoring my own advice.

But I’m trying.

Just a mentally exhausted 30-something doing her best-ish. 💜

And today, maybe my best-ish includes resting.

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A little question for you: Do you ever feel guilty for resting, even when you know you’re mentally and emotionally exhausted?

Because I definitely do.

This is a shorter personal reflection inspired by my original article, How to Keep Going When You’re Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted, on The Abby Juli Journal. The full article includes practical ways to manage low-energy days, recognize exhaustion, and give yourself permission to rest.