Sometimes it’s good to be exhausted

Good tired vs. bad tired: what do they look like to you?

Life is pretty exhausting at times, isn’t it?

When I chat to friends and colleagues lately, it seems like everyone is zapped.

Too much work, email overwhelm, triggering headlines…

Winter viruses, dark mornings and evenings, dreary grey days…

It’s no wonder we’re all worn out, battling to regain our energy, and pleading for spring to arrive.

But have you ever considered that sometimes being tired is a good thing?

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Hi, I’m Holly - certified coach, Breathworks mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. My mission is helping you to lead a more mindful, meaningful life, full of zest and energy, complemented by a calm, zen mind. Join the supportive Zestful Zen community today. 💖✨

Disclosure: To support my solopreneurship dreams, posts may contain affiliate links, where I get a small commission at no cost to you. I only share items I genuinely believe you’ll enjoy.

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The good kind of tired

The idea popped into my head after Zumba on Tuesday night, when I thought, ‘Wow, I’m totally wiped out!”

But in a good way.

The bright red in the face, dripping in sweat, jellified thighs kind of way.

My body was done for the night, but at the same time I was pumped. Exhausted but exhilarated. Beaming from ear to ear, so glad I’d dragged my arse to the gym instead of heading straight home from the office.

It felt sooooo good to be physically shattered, ready to melt into bed after my shower and head off to dreamland.

And the next morning, I was physically tired in a different (good) way.

That deep ache you get in muscles that haven’t been worked hard in a while. Sore, but oh so satisfying, when you think of them getting stronger.

Photo by Cris Saur on Unsplash

And the baddie I want to banish

I realised I hadn’t felt like this for a while.

During a busy work period, I’d been skipping gym classes in favour of evenings in front of my laptop. Building up the other kind of tired.

• The kind where your energy is sapped, and you find yourself scrolling your devices because that seems like the easy way to wind down.

• The kind where you order takeaway for dinner because you’re too knackered to cook (even though you could probably make your meal in less time than the delivery takes).

• The kind where your brain is mentally checked out, yet the moment you lay your head down on the pillow, all your incomplete tasks and worries cycle in a constant loop inside your head.

Excellent exhaustion

There’s something about the “right kind of tired” that brings back my equilibrium.

Physical exertion takes 100% of my focus and banishes rumination. I guess evolution made our bodies to move and sitting at a desk all day just isn’t natural.

But I think it’s more than that.

I also get the good kind of tired when I’m doing work I’m passionate about. I see the incremental progress and can anticipate the positive outcomes.

At day’s end, even if tasks are unfinished, I can mentally switch off, safe in the knowledge I was working on something that mattered to me.

And it doesn’t have to be about productivity either (whether physical or intellectual).

On Thursday, I had the mellow kind of tiredness that comes from slow, gentle relaxation. A spa day with my friends, where we did nothing more strenuous than lay around in saunas and jacuzzi all afternoon. I slept soooo well that night!

Perhaps my perfect combo for good exhaustion is purpose, pleasure and/or physicality. Treating my body and my mind in ways that feel good, that spark curiosity, contentment and creativity.

What do you think?

Photo by Kid Circus on Unsplash

Purpose, pleasure, physicality = priority

Reflecting on my different kinds of tiredness has made me reevaluate and realise that I’ve let my “non-negotiables” slide.

When life gets hectic, it’s easy to jettison the non-essentials like Zumba, a walk in the park, a massage, or creative activities like drawing or photography.

But in reality, I think that these activities are essential for me to live well. The more time I make for them, the better I function, and the happier I am.

So, it’s time to put them back at the top of my priority list.

I hope that whatever makes you the good kind of tired is top of your list too. Here’s to happy exhaustion!

Questions for self-reflection or journalling ✍️

• When do you feel happily exhausted? When did you last feel like this?

• What makes you feel the “wrong” kind of tired? How can you reduce this?

• What’s your perfect tiredness combo that gives you equilibrium?

• How can you find and reach your exhaustion equilibrium?

Now take action 🎯

• Take some time to reflect on what gives you “good” exhaustion: physically, mentally, creatively…

• Think about how these activities make you feel in your body, mind and soul. Do you want more of this?

• Consider whether you have the right balance: how much time are you spending on things that make you feel “good” tired vs. those that make you feel “bad” tired?

• Decide what you’d like to build into your routine. Block out time in your calendar if that helps, or plan some activities with a friend for extra incentive.

• Try out your new routine for a couple of weeks, then revisit how you feel and adjust as needed.

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on exertion, exhaustion and equilibrium. When do you feel happily tired? Have you got a go-to activity that wears you out in the best of ways? Let’s have a conversation in the comments or subscriber chat. 💬

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Ways to connect or work with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer coaching sessions and mindfulness courses.

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