We participate in a culture where people are constantly tired. Often, we assume that means we are just short on sleep. This may be true, but it is not the full story. While we often think of physical fatigue, we cannot dismiss the other ways we become worn out. You can get a full eight hours of sleep every night and still be tired in your soul. There are many ways to be tired.
What is a soul?
The soul is something within us. It is not our arms or legs. Instead, it makes up the essence of who we are as a person. Some describe it as personality while others describe the deeper spiritual elements of what makes up a person. It is likely a combination of personality, feelings, and the spiritual essence of who we are.
How do we get soul tired?
It is no surprise that life holds both excellent, life-giving, abundant moments and also deeply painful, difficult, hard times. No matter how well we manage them, our soul is affected. Recognizing that your soul is tired can be difficult or ambiguous. That is why it is important to learn to notice the signs.
Here are seven indicators that you may be soul tired:
You want to disengage from your normal activities.
Have you noticed yourself feeling numb and wanting to escape from the stresses of everyday life? If you lack motivation and simply want to withdraw, sit on the couch, and doing nothing at all, you may be fatigued in your soul, not just your body. When you are tired deep in your soul, it can sometimes feel easier to opt for things that make you feel less overwhelmed or stressed.
You feel tired all the time.
Feeling tired is normal if you are not getting adequate sleep or nutrition. However, if you still feel tired after regularly getting enough sleep, it may indicate something else is contributing to your lethargy. This is especially true if you feel tired throughout the day, regardless of the sleep you get each night.
You feel overwhelmed by normal tasks.
When normal, everyday tasks are too much for you, it may indicate that you are soul tired. If activities like showering, brushing teeth, or doing laundry are overwhelming, consider why that might be. Is there something that has made you weary, making ordinary tasks feel impossible to manage?
You have difficulty concentrating.
There are countless times throughout your day that require concentration. If you are struggling when you would ordinarily feel focused, this may indicate you are soul tired. Consider things like driving, listening to your loved ones, cooking, and working.
Have you arrived home but are unable to recall the drive? Can you not remember what your kids just said? Did you burn dinner, again? If making headway on a deadline at work eludes you, it could be soul fatigue that disturbs your concentration.
You feel irritable or angry.
Often when you are tired in any way, you run the risk of becoming irritable or angry. People do not function at their best when they are fatigued. This is even harder to recognize when you are soul tired because it does not always present the same way. If you notice that you are irritable, angry, or tense, consider whether you might be soul tired.
You want to isolate yourself.
Interacting with people takes a lot of energy. When you are soul tired, you do not have more energy to expend. This can lead to wanting to be alone and avoiding social situations. While this seems helpful, it can lead to isolation that prevents you from finding relief from what you are struggling with.
You cannot sleep even though you are exhausted.
Commonly, people struggle with sleep when they are soul tired. This can be surprising since you may assume that sleep would come naturally if you were so worn out. Since this is different from physical fatigue, you can still experience insomnia as a symptom.
What to do if you are soul tired.
Being soul tired is like carrying a heavy backpack. It may seem like it is not a big deal when you put it on, but as you carry it through your day, you notice it gets harder and harder. Eventually, you start looking for a time when you can take it off, but no end is in sight. This type of weariness is hard to manage.
You do not need to do this alone. A counselor at Glendale Christian Counseling in Texas can help you determine what is weighing you down and how to find relief. If you want to feel better, reach out to our office. We can connect you with a Christian counselor in Glendale, Texas who can help.
Photos:
“Too Much Laundry”, Courtesy of Monika Grabkowska, Unsplash.com, Unsplash+ License; “Taking a Break”, Courtesy of Getty Images, Unsplash.com, Unsplash+ License; “Sleepy”, Courtesy of Ephraim Mayrena, Unsplash.com, CC0 License
- Kate Motaung: Curator
Kate Motaung is the Senior Writer, Editor, and Content Manager for a multi-state company. She is the author of several books including Letters to Grief, 101 Prayers for Comfort in Difficult Times, and A Place to Land: A Story of Longing and Belonging...
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