The Impact of Collective Exhaustion on Our Lives

There’s a new kind of tired in town and no, it’s not because you stayed out too late or forgot to drink your coffee. It’s the kind of exhaustion that lingers long after a good night’s sleep, woven into the fabric of daily life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, mentally fried, and running on fumes, you’re not alone. We're not just tired we're collectively, deeply, chronically exhausted.

How we became a perpetually tired society

Burnout has been a buzzword since the pandemic, but this level of fatigue goes beyond work stress or a missed nap. “There’s this constant backdrop of stress that we’re all dealing with,” says Debbie Sorensen, PhD, a Denver-based psychologist and author of ACT for Burnout. “And on top of that, it’s just become expected that people will overwork.”

Between hybrid work, economic instability, political tension, and the pressure to “do it all,” the boundary between life and labor has completely eroded. We’re parenting while answering emails, taking conference calls in bed, and skipping lunch for back-to-back Zooms. The result? More than 40% of U.S. workers don’t take all their vacation time, and over eight million people are juggling multiple jobs, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Historically, stress isn’t new. A 2014 article in The Lancet pointed out that since the industrial revolution, people have feared that progress especially technological would push us to our breaking point. That concern is now a lived reality: we’re constantly plugged in, yet struggling to connect with ourselves.

Why does this level of exhaustion feel different?

We used to have natural transitions in our day: commutes, lunch breaks, leaving the office. Now, it’s common to go from a work call to folding laundry to doomscrolling without any mental buffer. This cumulative fatigue affects more than just our sleep.

“Chronic exhaustion dulls our cognitive function, limits our emotional bandwidth, and reduces our capacity to feel joy,” explains Sorensen. You may find yourself snapping at loved ones, forgetting basic things, or lacking motivation for anything beyond what’s absolutely necessary.

Add to that the weight of global crises, personal grief, and financial stress, and you’ve got the perfect storm for emotional flatlining. Even rest doesn’t always feel restful.

How chronic fatigue is changing us

1. We’re becoming emotionally numb
   When you’re tired all the time, it’s hard to feel deeply about anything. Joy, excitement, even sadness can become muted. This detachment is a common sign of burnout.

2. We’re more irritable and reactive
   A constant state of exhaustion can make us less patient and more emotionally volatile. It's harder to cope with small stressors, which can lead to conflict and miscommunication in relationships.

3. Our relationships are suffering
   Chronic tiredness makes it hard to be present. Conversations become shorter, quality time gets postponed, and the mental energy to connect meaningfully is often just not there.

4. Our creativity and productivity are tanking
   Ironically, in trying to do more, we’re doing less and doing it worse. Exhaustion dulls our ability to focus, problem-solve, and think creatively, which affects our performance in both work and personal life.

What we can do about it

The antidote to chronic fatigue isn’t just sleeping in on the weekends it’s a deeper, more systemic shift in how we relate to work, rest, and ourselves.

• Schedule real downtime. Treat rest like a non-negotiable meeting on your calendar. Even 20 minutes of screen-free stillness can help reset your brain.

• Reevaluate your expectations. Let go of the pressure to be constantly productive. Choose rest, joy, or connection especially when the world tells you to hustle.

• Be honest about how you’re feeling. Talk to friends or a therapist. Acknowledging that you’re struggling is the first step toward changing the pattern.

• Rebuild boundaries. If possible, set limits with your work hours, screen time, and social obligations. Your energy is a finite resource.

The road to repair is slow but necessary

It’s unlikely we’ll all suddenly become well-rested overnight, especially in a society that rewards burnout as a badge of honor. But by recognizing how exhaustion is affecting us and taking small steps to reclaim our time and energy we can begin to feel more like ourselves again.

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