If you would like to submit a question or make a comment, please email Dr. Taylor at thebrain@arlenetaylor.org.
There can be multiple reasons for being tired, including:
Perfectionistic tendencies can be exhausting in and of themselves. Sometimes they are triggered by self-esteem issues in that you may be attempting to feel better about yourself through doing everything so well, so perfectly. That is a dead-end street, however, because it’s only a momentary self-esteem boost so you have to do something else perfectly to get another momentary boost.
If your definition of perfect is “flawless,” you are continually struggling to meet unrealistic expectations because human beings are never flawless. Making mistakes is a quintessential characteristic of being human. Some dictionaries offer an additional definition for perfect, however: Well suited to the task at hand. I once heard a speaker address this using a screwdriver metaphor.
He began by asking the audience, “If you need to insert or remove a screw, what is the best tool to use?”
“A screwdriver, of course,” was the answer.
When the speaker asked for supporting reasons, the audience said,”
And so it went.
“Could you use a butter knife to insert or remove a screw?” asked the speaker.
The audience replied with:
And so on.
The speaker’s conclusion was that every brain and body is different. Metaphorically, each can be well-suited to the task at hand if the individual knows his/her innate giftedness (or talents or aptitudes) and selects tasks with care. That’s like using a screwdriver for screws and a butter knife for spreading butter or jam. That approach will be less fatiguing to the brain and body overall. When you are trying to use a butter knife for screws, and trying to do the tasks flawlessly, it likely will not be a win-win. I can imagine great fatigue.
Secondly, no brain can be really competent at everything. The brain is not designed that way. Every brain is unique and will have some innate aptitudes that can be honed for related tasks and that will utilize relatively less brain energy to accomplish. For these, if you want to put in the time and energy and practice, you may become world class.
Other tasks will require a greater expenditure of brain energy and while you may be able to complete them at some level, you may never become more than average in terms of completion and competency.
I suggest you become aware of how you are living your life. It may be that you can do far more than you think to address the fatigue you are experiencing, especially if your physician can find no physical basis for the exhaustion.
From what I have been able to determine, that visual representation of the four core emotions (joy, anger, fear, and sadness) relates to the amount of energy each provides. They are considered core emotions since they can be seen on the face of the fetus during pregnancy depending on what is happening to the mother.
Apathy is represented at the bottom of the emotions staircase. That’s a situation of immobility, likely contributed to by a slush fund of unresolved emotion. When in a state of apathy, the brain seems to barely have enough energy to stay alive. Studies have shown, for example, that when in a state of apathy, human beings don’t even have enough energy to kill themselves.
Nothing in life is free. You always give something up to get something. And the bottom line, the basic medium of exchange, is energy. You pay—not with money, or talent, or high-tech commodities. You pay with energy. PET Scans have shown that the brain expends differing amounts of energy depending on the type of activity it is engaged in, and whether or not the activity matches its own biochemical advantage. People tend to use less energy second for second when engaged in activities that match their brain’s biochemical advantage. Using money as a metaphor, the differences in energy expenditure may be as significant as pennies on the dollar! The question becomes, therefore: are you expending your energy in energy-intensive or energy-efficient ways?
Most people are capable of developing skills throughout the brain, and this is desirable. In order to make energy-efficient use of your brain’s biochemical preference, however, the goal is to match a majority of your life’s activities to what your brain does energy efficiently. It truly is different strokes for different folks! One activity may be an energy drain for one person but require so little energy expenditure for another that it’s like falling off the proverbial log. The less energy your brain uses to accomplish a specific activity, the more likely it is that the activity matches your brain’s innate giftedness.
Following are examples of the types of activities that your brain might find energy-efficient based on which one of the four divisions matches your own brain’s advantage.
Left Frontal Lobe
| Right Frontal Lobe
Note: Once a project is working as envisioned, it needs to be passed to others to maintain. Otherwise, they can be tempted to tinker with the project and, in a push to improve, reinvent, or change it, may actually cause ruin. |
Left Basal (Posterior) Lobes
| Right Basal (Posterior) Lobes
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That’s a question that I am asked quite regularly. There are, of course, opinions on both sides of the question. My brain’s opinion is that eating breakfast does matter, primarily for your brain—and I always do it. Breaking the fast from sleeping (unless you get up and snack at night!) boots up the brain much like you boot up a computer. Body cells can use fats, proteins, and carbohydrates for energy, not so with brain cells. Glucose from carbs is the preferred if not the best source of fuel that the brain can use efficiently. Due to its rapid metabolism, the brain requires minute-to-minute glucose. For example, glucose levels decline more during a period of intense cognitive processing. Studies in all types of people have shown improved mental ability following a carbohydrate meal. But what type of carbs? Healthier ones, of course, Carbs that are eaten in as natural state as possible and that are relatively low on the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load lists. Those recommended in a Longevity Lifestyle.
Eric Rimm, senior author of a study related to breakfast and coronary heart disease and associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, said, “It’s a really simple message. Breakfast is an important meal.” And Leah Cahill, postdoctoral research fellow in HSPH’s Department of Nutrition, was quoted as saying: “Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time.” This study corroborated other studies that have pointed to a link between breakfast and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems seen as precursors to heart problems. As my favorite aunt would likely have put it: “Eat a good breakfast already!” I do.
[Nedley, Neil, M.D. Proof Positive; Brand-Miller, Jennie, PhD, Thomas M. S. Wolever, MD, PhD, et al. The New Glucose Revolution]
You are correct. I choose to avoid using that terminology. Rather than talking about strengths and weaknesses, I prefer talking about the brain’s energy advantage, for several reasons.
Therefore, for many reasons, talking about strengths and weaknesses can be confusing and may even extend the time it takes for a person to identify their brain’s innate energy advantage.
No doubt you have heard others say, “Being around that person is simply exhausting!” Others can and do impact your energy levels, even as you impact theirs. The type of energy people generate can be thought of as positive, neutral, or negative. Being around negative energy is draining. Neurons in the brain and heart (and many all neurons) generate electromagnetic energy that can be detected strongly within three feet of the body and that can extend out as far as twelve to fifteen feet.
If the individual is exhibiting functional behaviors and thinking positive thoughts, the electromagnetic energy generated will influence the environment in a positive manner. If the individual is exhibiting nonfunctional behaviors (e.g., abusive, critical, judgmental, coercive, shaming) and thinking negative thoughts, the electromagnetic energy released will influence the environment in a negative manner.
You always give up something to get something and the bottom line is energy. All things being equal, spending quality time with individuals who have a similar brain bent may require less energy because you are, in effect, speaking the same brain language. Associating with those whose brain bent differs from yours may require additional energy as you, in effect, must now translate back and forth. The differences can be stimulating, however, and can make the energy trade-off worthwhile.
During my discretionary time I elect to spend time with individuals who have a positive mindset and positive self-talk, which impacts the energy their neurons generate. Of course that also means that I have an obligation to keep my mind-set positive so I contribute positively to the environment.
More and more information is becoming available about electromagnetic energy. You may want to refer to Brain References, Energy, for some sources that may get you started on your own investigation.
I commend you for wanting to manage your energy more effectively. It begins with awareness. I have tons more energy now because I’ve learned to expend it more wisely.
In my book MindWaves, there are several examples of how to evaluate your energy expenditures. Plus I have included an evaluation tool to make it easier, at least initially. Before long you’ll get the hang of it and be able to do in your head. Go for it! You’ll be glad you did!
Fatigue can be related to any number of factors. Any chance you have been caught in the SuperPerson Syndrome? (Refer to Brain References–SuperPerson Syndrome for additional information.) Are you living a high-level-wellness lifestyle in balance—with sufficient amounts of sleep and relaxation?
Most people are capable of developing skills throughout the brain and this is desirable. In order to make energy-efficient use of your brain’s biochemical preference, however, the goal is to match as many of your life’s activities (e.g., a majority if at all possible) to what your brain does easily. It truly is different strokes for different folks! One activity may be an energy drain for one person but require so little energy expenditure for another that it’s like falling off the proverbial log. The easier it is for your brain to accomplish a given task, the more likely it is that the task matches your own innate giftedness.
If you have no observable illness or disease, you may be experiencing fatigue because you are using brain energy at intensive rates.
Yes, most likely. Although male and female brains are more alike than they are different, there are some differences. For example, the corpus callosum, the largest band of horizontal connecting fibers, is smaller in the male brain. This contributes to lateralization; in other words, the male brain can concentrate its thinking efforts in one portion of the cerebrum. A larger corpus callosum in the female brain is believed to contribute to a more global type of processing. The entire cerebrum must be revved up to run any part of it thereby utilizing more metabolic energy. Practically and theoretically this may mean that when men and women are given the same mental task, all else being equal, the female brain may tire more quickly.
Other factors could contribute to your fatigue, as well, however. For example: spending large amounts of time performing tasks outside your natural brain lead, inadequate diet, lack of sleep, stressors in your lifestyle, physical illness, or trying to keep up all household tasks in addition to accounting duties.
In life you usually give up something to get something. The bottom line is energy. Spending time with individuals who have a similar brain lead may require less energy because you are, in effect, speaking the same brain language.
On the other hand, spending time with individuals whose brain leads are different from yours may require additional energy as you “translate” back and forth. The differences can be stimulating, however, and can make the energy trade-off more than worthwhile.
Having said that, others can and do impact your energy levels, even as you impact theirs. The type of energy people generate can be positive, neutral, or negative. Being around negative energy is draining.
When an individual is exhibiting functional behaviors and thinking positive thoughts, the electromagnetic energy generated will tend to be positive.
Of course the reverse is also true. When an individual is exhibiting nonfunctional behaviors (e.g., abusive, critical, judgmental, coercive, shaming) and thinking negative thoughts, the electromagnetic energy released will tend to influence the atmosphere in a negative manner.
Cells in the heart and the brain generate electromagnetic energy that can be detected strongly within three feet of the body and that can extend out as far as twelve to fifteen feet.
Try to identify whether you are exhausted because the customer has a different brain lead or whether he/she is generating negative energy.
Either way, you may need to limit the face-to-face time you spend with this customer. Accomplish as much as you can by phone, fax, and email. When you need to be converse in person, set the environment up so you are three feet or more away from the individual.
Good question. In addition to living a Longevity Lifestyle, some foods/beverages are believed to harm those little energy power houses inside your cells. This may be because they seem to increase free radical production that can harm the mitochondria. These include:
Ancestral Mediterranean Cuisine, now believed to be a good option for living well for a long time, recommends avoiding these, as well.
Mitochondria provide you with energy, including the energy you needed to ask the question. They are tiny energy factories inside most cells that generate most of the cell’s supply of chemical energy that is stored as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The energy produced powers everything you do. In the brain, vast amounts of energy are needed to transmit information across the synapse, or the space between neurons, to power functions that allow you to learn, think, feel, remember, and maintain cognition in the aging process. The brain uses 20 percent of all the oxygen you take in—using three times as much oxygen as body muscle cells. It grabs 20 percent of all the energy that is generated, using twice the energy of any other body cells, even though the brain accounts for only about 2 percent of the total body weight. Without the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells, you would soon be history.
Parenting a 2-year-old is energy intensive at best. In addition, your current home-making activities may not match what your brain does most easily. For example, parenting activities draw heavily on functions housed in the posterior lobes of the cerebrum: nurturing, teaching, encouraging, counseling, disciplining, providing opportunities for spiritual growth, stimulating an interest in reading/music, handling activities of everyday living, and so on.
Many physicians, on the other hand, have a biochemical preference for processing information in one of the two frontal lobes. As a stay-at-home mom, you may be spending large amounts of time on activities that require a greater expenditure of brain energy and, at the same time, be missing the more frontal-thinking challenges you experienced when practicing medicine.
It might be helpful to explore how you can combine both of these careers. Is there any option for you to work part-time as a physician? Or what can you do that will stimulate your brain on an adult / professional level?
You are free to drink anything and any type of water you choose. It’s your brain and your body. The “fancy” waters are likely better than not drinking water at all, but they are often expensive and may contain either sugar or artificial sweeteners—substances I prefer to avoid. You do realize that “boring” is just a state of mind. In essence, you have told your brain that plain water (or alkaline water or hydrogen water) is boring. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. Your brain can only do what it thinks it can do and you have programmed it to think that plain water is boring. You are able to reprogram your brain if you choose to do so. I tell my brain: Arlene, you drink enough water to have at least one or two pale urines per day. You like the taste and you like the energy water gives you.
Not that I know of. Taste buds may replace themselves as often as every 10-14 days; it doesn’t take long to retrain them. Water is considered your most important nutrient. The lack of water can kill faster than the lack of any other nutrient. When I drink water I tell myself, “Arlene, you drink life’s most important nutrient. You enjoy the taste of pure, clean water. You feel good.” It’s your choice what you choose to tell your brain and how you choose to program your taste buds. Remember that water requires no digestion, generates electrical energy in the brain, helps keep blood and lymph fluid at desired level of concentration to reduce the risk of clotting, allows digestive juices to better do their work, and provides water for many different chemical reactions and the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. Dehydration is not part of a longevity lifestyle.
The brain is command central for your body and is somewhat of an energy hog—as would be any other complex, centralized computer system! Some studies report, for example, that the brain uses 20% of all the oxygen the red blood cells extract from our lungs. Other studies say the brain utilizes 22% of all the calories we expend. Still others indicate the brain uses 40% of the total energy produced by the body. Not insignificant numbers!
Regardless of the precise statistics, however, the brain uses a large portion of your resources in order to function effectively. Just imagine what it requires when you’re not using it in the way in which it was designed to function most efficiently! You may want to evaluate your lifestyle as well as a match or mismatch between your innate giftedness and your career choices. Either or both can impact fatigue.
If your physician’s examination didn’t surface any problems, perhaps the paperwork you’re doing at your desk doesn’t match your innate giftedness. If so, your brain is having to work harder and expend energy at higher rates. That’s enough to make anyone tired! In addition, how much sleep did you get the night before? Fatigue can be cumulative, as can sleep deprivation. And we can experience the sense of being very tired when we stop long enough to pay attention to what the brain is registering. Did you get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise within the past 24 hours? Exercise serves as an antioxidant to the brain. Without it the brain can become even more fatigued as waste products build up in the system. Are you drinking sufficient amounts of water? Dehydration can contribute to brain fatigue.
Overall the brain is believed to utilize the approximate amount of electricity required to power a 10-watt light bulb, a rather dim bulb, as one researcher put it. The brain’s electrical generating plant, if you will, is housed in the action brain layer or brain stem. There are more connectors between the brain stem and the frontal lobes. Therefore, individuals with an innate preference for using one of the frontal lobes are generally more energetic than those who prefer to use the lower (posterior) lobes.
I’ll begin with the first part of your question: having learned to do something well doesn’t necessarily mean that your brain does it energy efficiently. Typically, practice can help you complete a specific task efficiently than when you originally were developing the requisite skills, but there will be an accompanying energy requirement that reflects an individual brain’s own innate advantage. The energy expenditure can be efficient or intensive.
For example, I have learned how to balance my check book and can do it “well” (with a minimum of errors). This specific task, however, is not “energy efficient” for my brain to accomplish. Because it is energy intensive I tended to procrastinate. Now I trade out hair cutting for balancing my checkbook with someone whose brain does it very energy efficiently—and we’re both happy because I love to cut hair and my brain uses small amounts of energy.
As to the second part of your question, figuring out your brain’s energy advantage give you the opportunity to manage your brain’s energy expenditures more effectively so that your brain energy lasts as long as possible (studies indicate levels of brain energy tend to decrease as the brain ages).
Become aware of the way in which your brain expends energy and identify tasks that are energy intensive versus those that are energy efficient. Here are several categories to consider:
Tasks that fall within this third category are typically less energy-exhausting for your brain.
