Why existing feels like a full time job?

 Ever feel like you're spending every ounce of energy just to "keep up"? You're not alone. More and more people are waking up each day already tired, not because they worked hard the day before, but because simply existing feels like a full-time job. The mental load is heavy, the world is loud, and peace feels rare.

So why are we trying so hard just to exist?

1. The Pressure to Perform at All Times

In the past, existence used to be more about surviving, finding food, keeping warm, raising families. Today, it’s about thriving in a world that never stops measuring us. Our jobs expect us to go the extra mile. Social media wants us to be perfect. Friends and family expect us to be available, kind, motivated, and somehow rested.

The reality? We're always "on." Even resting feels performative like we need to meditate better, relax smarter, sleep deeper.

It's exhausting.

2. We’ve Confused Self-Worth with Productivity

We’ve built a culture where rest feels like laziness, where we feel guilty for not being “busy.” Ask someone how they’re doing, and they’ll often say: “Busy, but good.”

But why is "busy" the default state? Because we’ve been trained to believe that doing is what makes us valuable. If you don’t have a side hustle, a five-year plan, a gym routine, and a constantly updated LinkedIn profile, are you even trying?

We’ve forgotten that our worth isn’t something we need to earn. Just being here should be enough.

3. Information Overload is Real

We are not wired to absorb everything the internet throws at us.

Our ancestors were exposed to the news of a village. We’re exposed to the tragedies, opinions, and arguments of the entire world every hour. Our brains weren’t made to process this much, this fast, all the time.

And while some of this information is useful, most of it adds to the noise turning our sense of calm into background static. That constant hum of “what did I miss?” or “am I doing enough?” robs us of mental peace.

4. Comparison is the New Currency

Ten minutes on instagram can make you feel like your life is behind schedule. Someone’s traveling the world. Someone else just bought a house. Another person just had a spiritual awakening and six-pack abs.

We scroll, we compare, and we wonder if we're failing at life. But here’s the truth: most of what you see online is curated, filtered, and exaggerated. No one posts about their loneliness at 2 a.m. or their worries about paying rent.

Yet, even when we know this, the comparison creeps in. And it makes existing just being content feel like a failure.

5. We’ve Lost the Art of Doing Nothing

There was a time when people sat on porches, stared at the stars, or just walked without earbuds. That kind of stillness was normal. Now, if we’re not stimulated every second, we reach for our phones.

We’ve become uncomfortable with silence not just around us, but within us. And that silence is where we used to process feelings, calm our minds, and reconnect with ourselves.

Without it, we’re just distracted. All the time.

6. Capitalism Doesn’t Reward Stillness

Let’s be honest our systems aren’t designed for humans, they’re designed for output.

The faster you work, the more you’re praised. The less you rest, the more "driven" you seem. But this mindset leaves no room for simply being human for taking a breath, for being uncertain, for not having a plan.

We treat burnout like a badge of honor instead of a warning sign. And that’s not sustainable.

7. So What Can We Do?

We don’t need to overthrow the system to find peace but we can start with small, human shifts:

Redefine success. What if success meant being present, healthy, and at peace not just productive?

Unfollow the noise. Curate your inputs. Follow people who make you feel grounded, not anxious.

Practice “un-doing.” Sit in silence. Go for a walk without your phone. Let your mind breathe.

Talk about it. Tell your friends you’re tired. Chances are, they are too. Connection starts with honesty.

Celebrate existence. You don’t need to be impressive today. You just need to be here.

Trying too hard to exist isn’t a personal failure, it’s a symptom of a world that forgot how to be human. But we can remember. We can choose to slow down, disconnect from the noise, and reconnect with what matters.

You are not behind. You are not broken. You're just living in a world that asks too much.

So take a breath. You’re doing enough. And maybe, just maybe existing is already everything.

May 31, 2025 Tags : exhaust

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