“You can do anything, but not everything.” ~ David Allen, author and productivity consultant
After a highly productive few months filled with teaching, projects, performances, and deadlines, I have found myself in a period of lower energy. While so much of what I was doing felt meaningful and energizing, it’s a reminder that doing things I love to do requires a lot of energy and focus.
On paper, life can look completely manageable.
The commitments seem reasonable. The deadlines appear spaced out enough. We tell ourselves, I can handle this.
But life is not lived on paper. There is an invisible mental load we carry to do these things
Real life includes interrupted sleep, emotional stress, caregiving, worry, difficult conversations, unexpected changes, and the invisible energy it takes simply to move through a full day. Mental fatigue is rarely loud or dramatic. More often, it arrives quietly. It shows up when simple tasks suddenly feel overwhelming, when motivation disappears, or when your mind feels too full to make one more decision.
One of the most important things we can remember is that our capacity is not the same every day. There are seasons when we feel energized, creative, and productive, and there are seasons when we need more space and more rest. Both are part of being human.
We live in a culture that celebrates constant productivity, but our bodies and nervous systems were never designed to operate at full speed all the time. Sometimes what we truly need is not to push harder, but to do less.
Mental fatigue can easily make us feel as though we are falling behind. It can show up as procrastination or resistance. There is wisdom in recognizing the difference and adapting.
When I feel mentally drained, I remember David Allen’s “2 Minute Rule” from Getting Things Done. If something takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. During mentally heavy seasons, where simple things can take an extraordinary amount of effort, this practice can help clear some of the small unfinished tasks that quietly take up space in our minds. Sending the text, replying to the email, putting away the laundry, or making the appointment may seem small, but those little acts can lighten the mental load.
And then there is active rest. Active rest is not doing nothing. It is intentionally restoring yourself while staying connected to life. A walk outside, stretching, deep breathing, reading, meaningful conversation, laughter, music, or simply sitting quietly in the sun can all help regulate the nervous system and refill our energy over time.
Rest is not laziness. Slowing down is not failure. Creating space in our lives is not wasted time. We are human-beings, not human-doings. Sometimes being is necessary.
This week, instead of asking, How much do I have to get done? try asking:
What would support my mind, body, and energy today?
Stretching alongside you,
Amy
