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Mental fatigue isn't caused only by difficult work. Long periods of boredom and under-stimulation can also leave people feeling tired and unmotivated. Research on boredom suggests that maintaining attention when nothing feels engaging can itself require mental effort.
This helps explain why hours of mindless scrolling or sitting around can sometimes feel strangely exhausting. Physical energy may still be available while motivation feels completely drained. Rest and boredom aren't necessarily the same experience. Sometimes, doing almost nothing can still feel tiring.
© Experimental Brain Research