Life can be tough. Not just physically, but mentally, as well.

Even if you’re not feeling depressed, stressed, or otherwise “bad”, sometimes you might simply feel like your mental energy has been low lately, like you’ve been waiting on a recharge.

However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that can be down about it.

Here, we’re going to look at how you can get some of that energy back, as well as some of the potential causes worth addressing.

*Source:* *Kateryna Hliznitsova on unsplash.com*

Address The Burnout Elephant In The Room

Even if you don’t feel like your mood has been particularly bad lately, if you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately, it’s going to eventually lead to burnout.

Burnout is typically the result of stress hormones being elevated for too long until your brain is effectively exhausted, reducing productivity, clarity, and responsiveness.

Avoiding burnout requires proactive lifestyle shifts: setting boundaries, prioritizing sleep, and incorporating active recovery through mindfulness, exercise, or creative breaks.

Unlike short-term fatigue, burnout can take months to heal, making prevention essential.

Clear Away The Brain Fog

If you feel like your thinking is sluggish lately, you’ve been more forgetful, or you have trouble focusing, then brain fog might be your issue. This is most often as a result of sleep deprivation, though a lack of the right nutrition can play a role, as well.

If you don’t get enough sleep or only eat processed foods with low essential nutrients, you’re effectively starving the brain of food.

To combat it, prioritize consistent sleep cycles, reduce blue light exposure before bed, and maintain a diet rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and slow-release carbohydrates. Good hydration throughout the day is key, too.

Consider The Right Supplements

While adding more whole foods that support healthy brain function is always recommended first and foremost, you can fill in the gaps and support your mind with supplements, as well.

There has been growing research into the field of nootropic agents, such as sunifiram to enhance cognition, that might be worth keeping an eye on. In the meantime, talk to your doctor about any supplements they might be able to recommend.

It could be just the boost that your cognitive health needs.

Get Moving

There has long been a link found between having a sedentary lifestyle and finding yourself a little more mentally sluggish as of late.

Long hours of sitting reduce blood flow to the brain, impair oxygen delivery, and contribute to mental fatigue. Over time, inactivity can dull focus, increase anxiety, and slow cognitive processing.

Even putting a little time into brief bouts of physical movements, like stretching, walking, or doing bodyweight exercises at your desk, can boost your circulation, as well as release neurochemicals that support learning and memory.

Regular aerobic exercise has long been understood to be one of the better protections against cognitive decline.

Exhaustion, fatigue, and a lack of proper brain nutrition are all serious problems that are worth taking care of.

If for no other reason, look into them to help bring back that mental energy you might feel you’re lacking recently.