No matter how much you sleep, you wake up every morning feeling empty, without knowing why? Certain seemingly harmless habits can drain your mental energy without you being aware of it. According to clinical psychologist Amélie Boukhobza, these behaviors, often socially valued, draw on our emotional resources to the point of exhaustion.
Say yes to everything
Under the guise of kindness or availability, saying yes to everything often means forgetting yourself. Amélie Boukhobza explains it clearly: “We accept invitations that we do not want to honor, we help others by putting our own needs aside… Result: mental and emotional fatigue accumulates. Learning to say no means reclaiming space for yourself“Learning to set limits is not a sign of selfishness, but a necessity to preserve yourself.
Endless scrolling on your phone
The smartphone has become a constant companion, supposed to relax, but on the contrary it overloads our brain. “We think we are relaxing, but in reality our brain is overheating. Too much information, too much stimulation, and as a result, a feeling of weariness, agitation and sometimes anxiety“, underlines the psychologist. Regular disconnection is essential to calm the mind and find real mental breaks.
Do several things at once
In a society obsessed with productivity, multitasking is often seen as a skill. In reality, it is exhausting. “Sending a message while listening to a conversation, watching a series while responding to emails… Multitasking gives the impression of being productive, but it exhausts our concentration and leaves us mentally drained. The worst: sometimes we do less thinking we’re doing a lot…!“, warns Amélie Boukhobza. The brain is not made to juggle constantly: one thing at a time is more than enough.
Force yourself to always be sociable
Smile, chat, remain available at all times… So many attitudes that end up wearing you out. “Talking, exchanging, smiling in all circumstances… It can be exhausting, especially if you don’t have a real break to breathe. There’s no harm in allowing yourself moments of solitude, to yourself, for yourself!“, reminds the specialist. Allowing yourself moments of withdrawal is a form of mental hygiene as much as an act of kindness towards yourself.
Constantly judging yourself
Mental fatigue also comes from the severity we impose on ourselves. “This inner dialogue which criticizes, compares, questions everything… It pumps up crazy energy. Being indulgent with yourself means avoiding unnecessary mental fatigue“, notes Amélie Boukhobza. Replacing guilt with self-compassion is a difficult exercise, but liberating.
Keep everything to yourself
Accumulating without ever expressing your emotions ends up taking a toll. “Accumulating emotions without ever expressing them is like storing files waiting to be processed. It weighs and wears out. Speaking, writing, moving: the form doesn’t matter, but it has to come out“, advises the psychologist. Externalizing, whether through speech, writing or movement, helps relieve the mind before it saturates.
Wanting to control everything
The desire to plan everything and avoid the unexpected may seem reassuring, but it consumes considerable energy. “Plan, anticipate, organize everything… These actions can be reassuring, but require a lot of energy. Accepting that everything is not under control means saving yourself from permanent stress“, underlines Amélie Boukhobza. Accepting imperfection and the unexpected is a form of inner freedom.
Repeat the same thing 10 times
It’s a classic of everyday life: constantly saying the same sentence to your loved ones or colleagues. “Tidy up your room“, “put on your shoes“, “Are you listening to me?“.”Saying the same sentence over and over again to children, to your partner or even to a colleague is a monumental waste of energy. And the more we repeat, the more we get annoyed. Sometimes it’s better to change strategy than to persist“, concludes the psychologist. Adapting your communication and letting go allows you to save precious mental capital.
Recognizing these eight behaviors is already starting to change. By learning to say no, to disconnect, to listen to yourself and to take care of yourself, everyone can find clarity, energy and true inner balance.