Mental Fatigue

Cognition is a term used to describe our mental abilities and processes. Simply put, these are the brain-based skills such as thinking and reasoning we use to perform simple and complex tasks.¹

Your brain gets tired in much the same way that your body does.¹⁰ So, too much cognitive activity over an extended period of time can send your brain into overdrive. This can leave you feeling mentally exhausted, what people sometimes refer to as ‘burnout’. In addition to slowing down your productivity and overall ability to pay attention and focus, it could also lead to more serious health issues.

Anything that requires a lot of mental energy can make you mentally tired in the short-term. Your brain is wired to deal with short-term stress but it does not react well to persistent, long-term stress.

When you are stressed, your brain activates stress response hormones for pressurised situations that require quick thinking.² However, if your body’s stress response hormones are activated persistently over a longer period of time, your brain struggles to cope, leaving you feeling mentally fatigued.³

Often associated with workplace stress, mental fatigue can happen to anyone and can occur if you experience long-term stress in any area of your life. You could be at risk, for example if you are:³

• Constantly making decisions⁴
• Habitually working late⁵
• Working in a demanding, high-pressure environment⁵
• Experiencing ongoing financial stress⁵
• Overcommitting to more tasks than you have time to finish⁴
• Juggling work, family, school and friends
• Dealing with life-changing circumstances such as divorce or the death of a loved one⁵

Signs and symptoms vary from person to person and often surface gradually. More importantly, if left unchecked over time mental fatigue can lead to anxiety or depression-like symptoms such as low mood and feeling down.³

Equally, people who suffer from mental fatigue often feel physically exhausted too, which may lead to physical health issues such as insomnia, digestive problems and a weakened immune system. ^{3, 6}

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Cynicism or pessimism
• Apathy (feeling of not caring)
• Detachment
• Anger / irritability / moodiness
• Feeling of hopelessness
• Feeling of dread
• Lack of motivation
• Low productivity
• Difficulty concentrating³

• Headaches
• Problems concentrating
• Upset stomach
• Body aches
• Excessive tiredness
• Changes in appetite
• Insomnia
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Increased illness, such as colds and flu³

• Poor performance at work
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Inability to keep personal or work commitments
• Low motivation
• Poor decision-making and judgement
• Calling in sick to work or school regularly³

As mental fatigue comes with a wide range of symptoms, diagnosis can be complex in some cases.⁸ Your doctor may look at your medical history, conduct a physical examination and run some blood tests, urine tests and x-rays to eliminate possible underlying medical causes.⁸ Fortunately, mental fatigue is treatable and there are various practical things you can do to help ease your symptoms and deal with stress.

• Try decluttering your house and workspace – physical clutter can turn into headspace clutter ⁴
• Become more organised and get into a routine – start with simple tasks like washing dishes after dinner every night and making your bed every morning when you get up
• Learn to say ‘no’, take on fewer tasks, delegate and ask for help⁵
• Find a balance between doing things efficiently and doing them perfectly – perfectionism can lead to decision paralysis or not being able to make decisions at all⁴
• Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night – your brain cannot re-energise without regular sleep
• Before going to bed, make a home and work to-do list for the following day but keep it doable and simple⁴
• Take regular breaks throughout the day, take a stroll, get away on a vacation – even if it is for a couple of days a once or twice a year³
• Learn to relax by practicing meditation or mindfulness – 20 minutes a day can change the way your body responds to stress and decrease your risk of other health issues^{3, 4}
• Eat a balanced diet with a daily intake of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins such as white fish, plain yoghurt, beans and lentils, lean beef and pork, white meat and poultry such as chicken and turkey, and eggs⁹
• Exercise – even a brisk walk in your lunch hour is enough
• Consider taking a natural supplement

Gincosan® is a natural medicine clinically proven to support healthy cognitive function in people suffering from mental fatigue. Increasing microcirculation to the brain and body, Gincosan® improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your brain, alleviating some of the brain fog you are likely experiencing.

Help prevent mental fatigue by supporting healthy mental energy levels.¹¹