Why Am I So Tired All the Time? A Friend-to-Friend Check-In
Hey friend,
I want to talk about something that hardly anyone seems to admit: feeling constantly tired, even when nothing dramatic is wrong. It's that slow fatigue, like your brain is a browser with 50 tabs open, and your body is stuck in buffering mode.
It’s not burnout from dramatic career shifts or big life crises. It's the layer of daily fatigue that creeps up when you're juggling work, relationships, expectations, your circulation, your self-worth… all day long.
If you're nodding along, this article is for you. Think of it like chatting over tea, sharing mini-rituals and tools that have helped me regain clarity and calm, one gentle move at a time.
Chapter 1: The Weight We Carry Without Knowing
Remember when exhaustion meant something broke? Now, exhaustion might just mean everything is working too hard, all the time. In your 30s, emotional labour, mental load, caregiving, transitions, and self-doubt can stack up until even quiet tasks feel heavy.
This exhaustion doesn't scream. It whispers. It’s the fatigue of maintaining more than living.
When you’re in that zone, traditional solutions (full detox, yoga retreats, bullet journal layouts) feel like too much and too aspirational. What you need is pause, presence, and something simple that feels like a hug.
Chapter 2: A Physical Pause for the Overloaded Mind
A lot of us live “in our heads.” Thought spirals, anxious checklisting, and replaying old conversations. But science tells us that the body is an entry point to calm. Touch, temperature, and texture connect to your nervous system faster than thoughts ever can.
That’s why I fell in love with the HushPlugz – Noise Reduction Earplugs. They’re made from ultra-soft silicone, come in sizes small to large, and fit so snugly it feels like your own private bubble with no pressure, just softness. Slip them in for 10 minutes: when the neighbour’s TV is blasting, the kids are arguing, or your brain can’t turn off.
That silence is not dead air. It’s space. The kind that allows your mind to breathe.
Chapter 3: Hello Silence, Goodbye Fuzzy Thoughts
Once, I had my earplugs in during a late-night work session. The world outside dimmed, no phantom phone pings or toaster ding. I had a cup of chamomile tea, and in the hush, I felt a sense of presence. I just sat in the stillness.
No to-do lists. No guilt. For a brief few minutes, I reconnected with my rhythm.
If silence isn't practical, maybe soft instrumental music or a guided breathing track will work. Either way, that transition and mind reset is what these earplugs offer.
Chapter 4: Introducing Touch—A Gua Sha Tool as a Reset Anchor
Silence clears space and Touch shapes it.
Enter the Full Body Gua Sha Massage Tool from Design Jiggy. Its made with beeswax resin and shaped for long, gliding strokes across your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. It's sturdy, smooth, and easy to hold — made for those moments when your body feels tight or heavy and you just want to feel a little more at ease.
Here’s how I usually use it:
After work, I lean against the wall and gently glide it across my shoulders and arms.
On weekends, I’ll use it on my calves or back after a shower when my muscles are warm and relaxed.
You don’t need to press hard or look for red marks. It’s not about that — it’s more about checking in with your body and letting it unwind a little.
No fancy rituals. Just a simple, grounding tool to help you feel more present and less tense.
Chapter 5: Building a Daily Micro-Ritual Practice
Let me break it down into bite-sized, doable rituals.
Ritual A: Evening Silence
Put in HushPlugz earplugs
Dim lights
Sip a herbal tea
Breathe deeply for 5–10 minutes
Ritual B: Touch Reset
Choose one body area (neck, calves, arms)
Use the Full Body Gua Sha tool
Glide slowly (3–5 minutes per side)
Focus on sensation, not technique
These routines aren’t choreographed. They’re flexible. Do them at 2 PM or 9 PM. The point isn’t consistency.
Chapter 6: The Real Impact Behind the Rituals
You’re probably asking: Does this help? Or is it just pretty self-care aesthetics?
Here’s what happened:
Mental reset: The earplugs broke the noise loop. When I took them out, I wasn’t exhausted; I felt recalibrated.
Body awareness: The Gua Sha became a bridge between my brain and my body again. I’d realize I was holding tension in my jaw, shoulders, and calves that I didn’t even know were sore.
Emotional ease: There’s something about doing something just for you, small, soft, intentional, that reminds your brain: you’re worth this care.
None of it is dramatic. But after a week, I noticed I was less reactive, sleeping lighter, waking warmer.
Chapter 7: Your Invitation—A Gentle Reset for Mental Fog
Here’s what I’d love for you to try:
Pick one ritual. Just one.
Tonight, pop in the earplugs and sit in silence. No phone. No task.
Or tomorrow, take 5 minutes post-shower with the Gua Sha tool.
Or do both—one in the morning, one in the evening.
If you feel curious about those two tools, they’re linked here. But this isn’t about buying. It’s about trying.
Chapter 8: Your Kindness Matters (To You too)
We’re so generous with others: checking in on partners, caring for aging parents, coaching colleagues, supporting friends. But we forget to check in with ourselves.
What’s happening inside doesn’t show up in outward success. We can succeed while feeling foggy. But success doesn’t heal exhaustion.
So: how are you, really?
What small space can you claim today that’s just for you?
Wrap-Up: A Friend-to-Friend Note
Here’s the bottom line, okay?
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not broken.
You’re just tired. And that’s valid.
Maybe all you need is not one big change, but one small pause. One soft ritual. One breath of quiet.
Because when your brain gets permission to rest, your body follows. When your body feels safe, your mind feels clearer.
You're allowed to pause. You're allowed to breathe.
You're allowed to feel human again.
And if you're curious about a tool that can help—the earplugs, the Gua Sha—they’re here when you're ready.
Sending you gentle warmth, friend. You've got this.