I am tired all the time and I feel bad about it?

r/anxiety Lately I feel tired almost every day. Not sleepy, just drained. The part that bothers me most is that resting makes me feel guilty, even when I know I need it. I can sit down to relax and still feel stressed, like I should be doing something more useful.

I noticed that a lot of students and young adults online talk about the same thing. Many say they rest but still feel uncomfortable afterward. Some even call themselves lazy. That word comes up a lot, but it does not really fit. If someone were lazy, they would not feel bad about resting. They would not feel anxious or ashamed for stopping. Feeling guilty while resting usually means you care and you are overwhelmed, not lazy.

Burnout does not always show up as something extreme. Sometimes it is quiet. It can feel like having no energy, losing motivation, or feeling behind all the time even when you are trying. When pressure builds up for too long, your body slows down but your mind keeps pushing. That is where the guilt comes from.

There are a few small things that can actually help. One is deciding your rest before you rest. For example, telling yourself you will rest for twenty minutes makes it easier to relax because your brain knows when it ends. Another helpful thing is resting without your phone sometimes. Scrolling keeps your mind active and does not give real rest. Even a few minutes without a screen can make a difference. Lowering daily expectations also helps. Choosing one main task instead of many reduces the constant feeling of being behind. Lastly, stopping the use of the word lazy matters more than people think. Replacing it with tired or overwhelmed removes a lot of unnecessary shame.

Feeling exhausted does not mean you are failing. It usually means you have been under pressure for too long. Rest is not something you need to earn. It is something your body needs to function properly.

Pause and reflect: What makes you feel guilty when you rest, and what is one small change you could try this week to make rest feel easier?

Inspired by shared experiences from online student and mental health discussions, including Reddit communities.