2 strategies for managing the chronic exhaustion of being mentally ill
Apr 6, 2026
A theory that shifting from rest to activity drains extra energy for people with mental illness. A broad definition of 'work' that includes chores, self-care, and exercise. Practical tactics to cut transitions to one daily start and to use slow morning and evening ramps. Guidance on shaping a plateaued energy day with gradual rise, long steady work, and slow wind-down.
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insights INSIGHT
Transitions Consume More Energy Than Sustained Work
Mental illness drains energy largely because transitions from rest to action consume huge effort.
Dr. Scott Eilers compares this to Newton's first law: staying in motion is easier than initiating motion when mood is low.
question_answer ANECDOTE
How Starting Feels As Hard As Working
Once Dr. Scott Eilers is in work mode he finds tasks manageable and can sustain effort without much trouble.
He notes starting is the hard part: getting out of bed or off the couch can feel as draining as one or two hours of actual work.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Limit Work Mode To One Daily Transition
Do try to enter and exit work mode only once per day to minimize draining transitions.
Dr. Scott Eilers structures a single long work period so initial inertia is paid once, leaving more total usable energy.
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The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers 
