There is the tiredness of a hard week, which goes away with a good sleep. And there is another tiredness, deeper. You come back from a holiday and by the second day you feel empty again. Things that used to interest you no longer touch you.
If you recognise yourself here, you are not lazy or ungrateful. You have probably been carrying a lot for a long time.
A few signs to notice
- You wake up tired even after enough sleep.
- You snap easily at colleagues or at the people close to you.
- You feel that whatever you do, it is never enough.
- Sunday afternoon has become the heaviest hour of the week.
What you can try
- Give the day a clear ending: a walk, a shower, something that says "I am done".
- Choose one boundary and keep it, for example no email after 8.
- Tell someone at work that you cannot keep up. Often others do not know how much you are carrying.
- Remember who you are outside work. What did you enjoy before everything became an obligation?
Your worth is not measured in hours or in results.
When these are not enough
If the exhaustion lasts for months or affects your health, talk to a doctor or a psychologist. Asking for help is not a defeat. It is the most serious way of taking yourself seriously.