Brain Drain - how do you recover?

[qwerty]

When you work so hard, and your brain becomes completely drained and exhausted, but sleep, rest, fun, helps but doesnt rejuvinate, how can you build up your mental energy?

[Brad Isaac]

If I've got the brain drain really bad and sleep, etc doesn't help. I sit still for a 1/2 or hour. No TV, radio or interruptions. Just sitting quietly. Sometimes I'll doze. But nearly every time I'll feel completely rejuvenated.

[dennis08]

Breathing tactics work for me.

[qwerty]

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea.

[Brad Isaac]

Originally Posted by dennis08

Breathing tactics work for me.

Dennis, what kind of breathing tactics?

[groove88]

Just as well give meditation a shot to then ^^

[Steve Pavlina]

The best thing for me is to listen to personal development audio programs. It's a passive activity that never fails to mentally recharge me. I've been doing this since college.

You can try listening to your favorite music as well, but I prefer listening to speakers, since the ideas help to stimulate my mind again.

[Shamou]

It is said that during increased mental activities, the brain can use up to thirty five percent of the available glucose...

Glucose = A simple sugar that is the main source of energy for the body.

So, in the case of "brain drain" the best thing to do would be some type of passive activity while the liver produces additional glucose...
.

[pylonian]

I actually wrote a post on my blog about some habits I've learned in my Chinese medicine study that have helped me stay healthy despite the very rigorous education (on top of my family life, work life, etc...) -- you can check it out at:
7 Life Changing Habits I learned through Chinese medicine study

One of my favorites on that list is the first one because it's easy, tastes good (IMHO) and gets people interested in the power of herbal teas! I'll copy and paste that one below.

Frequent consumption of Ju Hua (chrysanthemum flower) + Gou Qi Zi (goji/wolf berry, lycium) + Dang Gui (angelica sinensis) tea: This is a slight variation of a tea that one of our professors repeatedly urged us to drink so that our “ears and eyes will be bright” and we can be great students. You should be able to pick up all of these herbs at your local Chinese formulary without a prescription. You can also find them at most well stocked natural foods stores and Chinese groceries. Look for organic sources if you can and make sure the herbs themselves seem vital - deep colors and not too dry. Put equal parts in a teapot or generously sized teaball. I use a glass teapot that’s actually meant for the brewing of french press coffee - that way I can make plenty and the herbs can sit in there for a while, really steeping. I drink this tea several times a week - in the winter term I drank it every day.

Good luck and good health.

[stephencp]

Regaining energy probably depends upon your temperament too.
If you are an introvert, you get energy by being alone - reading and/or listening.
If you are an extravert, you get your energy from outside yourself, mainly interaction with other people. This explains why introverts will leave a party drained but extraverts will leave energized.

Stephen

The Internet Largest Free Give Away Ever - ****************************

[Calculusaurus]

Originally Posted by qwerty

When you work so hard, and your brain becomes completely drained and exhausted, but sleep, rest, fun, helps but doesnt rejuvinate, how can you build up your mental energy?

Mental energy, as far as I can tell, is not a finite resource. I've gone weeks on continous stream of high mental energy (usually corresponding to times of increased workload, "stress," etc.). I've also gone months running from tiny drips of mental energy (usually corresponding to excessive free time, summers, boredom, etc.)

I think you get to choose how much mental energy you have. In fact, I think it's fully possible to be on maximum mental energy 24/7. It's just a matter of finding the right things to keep it high. High workloads, extreme motivation, and stuff like that keeps mental energy pool essentially infinite. Boredom and too much free time reduce that energy pool to a little puddle.

[Sam988]

Normally just sleeping for me does it. But when it doesn't, i just sit and relax, meditate.

[John Hill]

If you need to give your brain a rest and cease all mental activity you need to consider how to stop thinking.

John

Attracting People.com

[TypeCarl]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

The best thing for me is to listen to personal development audio programs. It's a passive activity that never fails to mentally recharge me. I've been doing this since college.

You can try listening to your favorite music as well, but I prefer listening to speakers, since the ideas help to stimulate my mind again.

You know... I've always thought of doing that, but I never have.

Time to kick on Tony Robbins and gang!

Carl Z

PseudoPower.com - No Holds Barred Self-Improvement

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by qwerty

When you work so hard, and your brain becomes completely drained and exhausted, but sleep, rest, fun, helps but doesnt rejuvinate, how can you build up your mental energy?

Take a holiday somewhere and leave your life behind for a while.

[Lola]

When I "hit the wall" the best thing for me to do is to get physical. Get up and get moving, preferably outdoors. I take a brisk walk or run, hike in the woods, weed the garden, play with the dogs. Anything that involves physical activity but doesn't require much in the way of conscious thought. Things I can do without really thinking about them, yet my attention is diverted from the brain drain project.

The combination of physical activity, fresh air and nature usually do the trick. And I often find when I return to the project, that while I was taking a break my subconscious mind has come up with a resolution to the thing that had me stuck.