Signs You May Have Mental Exhaustion
Reading Time: 6 minutesDoes it feel like basic tasks are taking an overwhelming effort to complete? Do you have trouble remembering things or understanding information? Are you struggling to find motivation or energy to function normally in your life? You may be dealing with mental exhaustion.
As a young adult, you’re juggling a lot of new responsibilities and stressors, whether you’re in college or just beginning to build a life on your own. While not an official mental health diagnosis, mental exhaustion can have a serious impact on your health, productivity, and overall well-being. In this article, we’ll share some helpful steps you can take to overcome mental fatigue, boost your energy, and regain a positive outlook on life.
What You’ll Learn
- What is mental exhaustion?
- What’s the difference between burnout and mental exhaustion?
- What are the symptoms of mental exhaustion?
- What are the most common causes of mental exhaustion in young adults?
Quick Read
Mental exhaustion is a growing concern among young adults, particularly those navigating the complexities of college or early career life. This state of mental fatigue is characterized by an overwhelming sense of cognitive overload, where the brain struggles to process information due to prolonged periods of high-demand tasks without adequate rest.
As responsibilities pile up from various aspects of life, including school, work, and personal commitments, cognitive performance can deteriorate, leading to difficulties in memory, attention, and overall functioning. If left unaddressed, mental exhaustion can escalate into more severe conditions, such as burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Burnout is a significant consequence of mental exhaustion, manifesting as physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. Symptoms of burnout include a lack of motivation, cognitive impairment, and emotional distress, which can severely diminish one’s quality of life. Recent studies indicate that burnout is increasingly prevalent among young adults, with a notable peak occurring around age 25.
The pressures of modern life, including work-related stress, financial concerns, and mental health challenges, contribute to this alarming trend, highlighting the urgent need for effective coping strategies.
The symptoms of mental exhaustion can be diverse, affecting both emotional and cognitive functions. Individuals may experience a “foggy brain,” difficulty concentrating, low energy, and feelings of detachment or helplessness. Additionally, mental exhaustion can lead to mood swings, increased anxiety, and even physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue. Recognizing these signs is crucial for young adults, as they can serve as indicators of deeper issues that may require professional intervention.
To combat mental exhaustion, you can try several practical strategies. Taking regular breaks from screens, engaging in physical activity, and trimming down commitments can provide mental relief. Creative pursuits, such as painting or writing, can also help rejuvenate cognitive functions. Furthermore, connecting with friends and practicing mindfulness through meditation or yoga can enhance emotional well-being. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, it is essential to seek support from mental health professionals to address any underlying issues effectively.
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What Is Mental Exhaustion?
Mental exhaustion occurs when your brain is trying to process too much information for a prolonged period without rest. It’s a response to a high “cognitive load,” which generally comes from having to respond to an increased volume of demanding or high-focus tasks. Overstimulation can also contribute to mental fatigue.
School, work, extracurricular activities, and home life can all put urgent and focus-heavy tasks on our plate. Trying to perform at a high level (i.e., processing lots of information quickly and responding accurately) can wear down your cognitive performance over time. That’s especially true when you’re not getting enough rest or time to recover. Therefore, it becomes harder to remember important details, pay attention, understand information, and react in a timely or appropriate manner to what’s happening around you.
Without relief, mental exhaustion can lead to burnout, accidents, emotional stress, physical fatigue, and mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Finding healthy ways to cope can refresh your mind and renew your ability to think clearly and function normally.
What Is Burnout?
Mental exhaustion is a symptom of burnout. Burnout typically involves complete physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. This can include a lack of motivation, cognitive impairment, emotional distress or depression, and physical health issues. According to the Journal of International Medical Research, burnout can reduce your quality of life and ruin your sleep. And it’s also associated with medical conditions such as cognitive impairment, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.
Burnout is typically brought on by a high level of stress over a certain period of time. And it can have various symptoms, including extreme overwhelm, increased irritability and anger, and detachment.
Furthermore, a new study finds that a quarter of Americans are burnt out before they reach age 30. According to the 2025 study conducted by Talker Research, burnout among young people peaks at age 25.
Causes of Mental Fatigue for Young Adults
The Talker Research study also looked at the causes of burnout in young adults, and found that the top stressors causing mental exhaustion are:
In addition, a 2024 poll conducted by NAMI found that one-third of employees aged 18–29 considered quitting because of the negative impact of work on their mental health.
Mental Exhaustion Symptoms
Mental exhaustion symptoms can show up in your emotions and behavior, as well as your ability to think clearly. Here’s what that might look like:
- Foggy brain
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Lack of motivation
- Feelings of detachment and apathy
- A sense of helplessness or powerlessness
- Low energy
- Depressed mood
- Mood swings, including intense anger and overwhelming grief
- Increased feelings of anxiety or a sense of dread
- Lack of interest in personal hobbies or recreational activities
- Increased self-criticism and negative thinking spirals
- Changes in appetite and/or sleeping patterns
- Headaches and/or muscle pain
- Physical fatigue and extreme tiredness
- Suicidal ideation
- Inability to be productive or focus
- Trouble making decisions
6 Ways to Overcome Mental Exhaustion
Recovering from daily mental exhaustion is a process that can start with just a few simple steps. Here are some tips for recovering from mental fatigue:
Give Yourself Screen Breaks
Technology can be overstimulating to the brain, and the blue light that our screens emit can increase alertness, which can exhaust your mind even further. If you’re having trouble winding down and your brain is tired, pick up a book or listen to some music instead of defaulting to your TV, tablet, or phone. Learn more tips for doing a digital detox.
Take a Walk
When you move your body, your blood flow increases, sending more oxygen to your organs and your tired brain. You don’t need to walk fast or even very far. It helps if you can take a stroll out in nature or greenery, because nature can actually improve your brain’s processing power. You’ll be getting a mental and physical break from your environment while experiencing the sense of calm and restoration that nature provides.
Trim Your Schedule
If possible, cut down on the number of activities and commitments on your schedule, and reduce the number of focus-heavy tasks on your list. Get serious about giving your brain a break, and you’ll have the opportunity to restabilize. It may also give you a chance to reflect on your work and any parts of your life that may need to change so that your health can improve.
Get Creative
Creative activities activate different parts of our brains than demanding analytical tasks. When you paint, write, color, work a puzzle, do crafts, make music, or listen to music, you’re “recreating” your ability to process information clearly. Do it for fun, even if it’s just for half an hour, and you’re guaranteed to start feeling better.
Talk to a Friend
A warm mug of tea or coffee and a good conversation can lighten your mental load. Connecting with someone can improve your mood, reduce your mental burden, and enhance your perspective.
Meditate
Mindful exercises like meditation or yoga can improve your well-being and enhance positive feelings that will help restore your mental and emotional energy. Start with a basic meditation to wind down from the day’s activities.
Read: 10 Ways to Improve Your Mental Fitness in 2025
When to Seek Treatment
If you’re dealing with persistent, debilitating mental exhaustion, and you’re experiencing any of the following as a result, you should seek support from a mental health professional:
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming others
- Poor school or work performance
- Frequent absence from school or work
Young Adult Mental Health Treatment
At Newport Institute, we provide compassionate, research-backed treatment for mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, disordered eating, and substance use challenges.
We focus on the root causes of these conditions and use a comprehensive, whole-person approach to treatment that includes medical and psychiatric care, clinical and experiential therapeutic modalities, and educational and life-skills components.
You can recover from mental exhaustion and related conditions, and our caring, compassionate staff is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mental exhaustion or mental fatigue?
What causes brain fog and fatigue?
How do I overcome mental fatigue?
What does work burnout feel like?
