psyche
Mental Fatigue
Adverse effectMental Fatigue is an adverse outcome involving a sense of reduced mental energy or impaired performance during mentally demanding activity. It describes a cognitive experience rather than a specific diagnosis, and may be considered separately from physical tiredness.
A clear starting point for understanding Mental Fatigue and the questions commonly considered alongside it.
These are research findings, not promises. Most options have little evidence, and results differ from person to person.
What can cause it
How likely each one is to cause it, most likely first.
FastingpracticeUnclear
Based on 5 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded reported fatigue. In a 2026 randomized controlled trial involving 57 people with fatty liver, fatigue was reported more often in the intervention group as a self-reported mild symptom.
Open the Fasting pageExpressive WritingpracticeUnclear
Based on 2 studies. Strongest study: a systematic review of studies.
Among people with fibromyalgia, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, a review of randomized and non-randomized human studies reported emotional strain or fatigue from writing tasks.
Open the Expressive Writing pageAcupuncturepracticeUnclear
Based on 2 studies. Strongest study: a systematic review of studies.
A pooled review of randomized trials reported sleepiness in studies involving people recovering from stroke.
Open the Acupuncture pageMeditationpracticeUnclear
Based on 2 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
Open the Meditation pageBinaural BeatspracticeUnclear
Based on 2 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A 2024 randomized trial involving 29 participants recorded fatigue.
Open the Binaural Beats pageSwimmingpracticeUnclear
Based on one study. Strongest study: a systematic review of studies.
Open the Swimming pageCupping TherapypracticeUnclear
Based on one study. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A trial involving 50 people in 2011 reported tiredness.
Open the Cupping Therapy pageInfrared SaunapracticeUnclear
Based on one study. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A 2025 randomized trial involving 30 people with Major Depressive Disorder recorded fatigue.
Open the Infrared Sauna page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What can cause it
Interventions reported to bring this on31 listedHighest probability
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyLowSourceClinical5 other sources
A pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded reported fatigue. In a 2026 randomized controlled trial involving 57 people with fatty liver, fatigue was reported more often in the intervention group as a self-reported mild symptom.
- →PracticesExpressive WritingCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
Among people with fibromyalgia, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, a review of randomized and non-randomized human studies reported emotional strain or fatigue from writing tasks.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Open Expressive WritingStudy result
Emotional strain or fatigue from writing tasks
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
A pooled review of randomized trials reported sleepiness in studies involving people recovering from stroke.
- →PracticesMeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
In an RCT involving 81 healthy people, personal burnout increased immediately after the mindfulness intervention (p=0.021), then moved back toward baseline at follow-up. The reported symptom-scale scores were CBI1 38.2±21 pre → 42.4±17 post → 38.8±19 follow-up (group×time p<0.01); higher scores indicate worse symptoms.
Who was studied
- Healthy people
Open MeditationStudy result
The mindfulness group exhibited increased personal burnout (p=0.021) immediately post-intervention, though this returned toward baseline at follow-up; CBI1 38.2±21 pre → 42.4±17 post → 38.8±19 follow-up (group×time p<0.01) — CBI is a symptom scale, higher = worse, so an increase is negative
- →PracticesBinaural BeatsCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
A 2024 randomized trial involving 29 participants recorded fatigue.
- →PracticesSwimmingCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2026 pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded found impaired performance in young adult swimmers, with a 1.2% decrement (d = 0.13).
Open SwimmingStudy result
Mental Fatigue: impaired performance in young adult swimmers (1.2% decrement, d = 0.13)
- →PracticesCupping TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A trial involving 50 people in 2011 reported tiredness.
Low probability(23)(1)(22)
- →PracticesInfrared SaunaCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2025 randomized trial involving 30 people with Major Depressive Disorder recorded fatigue.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Major Depressive Disorder
Open Infrared SaunaStudy result
Fatigue
- →PracticesTENS / EMS TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
An RCT involving 25 people with fibromyalgia reported mild fatigue.
- →PracticesHot BathCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2023 randomized trial found differences in subjective fatigue before bedtime among four groups.
Who was studied
- Healthy people
Open Hot BathStudy result
Among the subjective parameters before bedtime, significant differences in SCS-induced fatigue were found between the four groups (p<0.05, R-ANOVA)
- →PracticesFinnish SaunaCertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge1 other source
Heat strain and sweat-related fluid loss can raise core temperature and leave people drowsy and mentally tired for some hours after a session.
Open Finnish SaunaStudy result
Heat strain and sweat fluid loss raise core temperature and can leave people drowsy and mentally tired for some hours after a session.
- →PracticesHigh-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)CertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge1 other source
Very hard interval sessions done often with too little rest can lead to overreaching, with tiredness also appearing as low drive and poor focus; enough rest days prevent it.
Open High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)Study result
Very hard interval sessions done often with too little rest can lead to overreaching, where the tiredness also shows up as low drive and poor focus; enough rest days prevent it.
- →PracticesBrain Games / PuzzlesCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
Intense or prolonged cognitive effort can lead to mental fatigue, reducing performance and motivation.
- →PracticesPsychotherapyCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
Emotionally demanding sessions, especially trauma processing or exposure work, can cause temporary mental exhaustion afterwards.
- →PracticesBedtime Wind-Down RitualCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 5 of 288 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesBrisk WalkingCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 235 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →SupplementsChagaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 3 of 229 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesFocused Attention MeditationCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 3 of 237 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesGrounding / EarthingCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 126 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesLoving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)CertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 4 of 260 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesMassageCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 3 of 240 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesQigongCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 250 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 267 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesIndoor RowingCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 242 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesStrength TrainingCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 300 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesTranscendental MeditationCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 3 of 254 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesWim Hof Method BreathingCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 3 of 315 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 327 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesYoga NidraCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 298 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical1 other source
In focus groups, 32 people with Anxiety Disorder (General), Depression, or Stroke reported mental fatigue from the concentration required during mindfulness practice.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Stroke
Open Mindfulness MeditationStudy result
Fatigue reported by participants as a result of concentration required during mindfulness practice (participant-reported in focus groups)
Very low probability(1)(1)(0)
- →SupplementsTurkey TailCertaintyVery lowSourceClinicalModerate effect1 other source
How big is the effect
Moderate effectA clear difference on average.
Open Turkey TailWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Colon Cancer
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Mental Fatigue is an adverse outcome involving a sense of reduced mental energy or impaired performance during mentally demanding activity. It describes a cognitive experience rather than a specific diagnosis, and may be considered separately from physical tiredness.
How interventions help
The interventions associated with mental fatigue fall into two distinct evidence contexts. TENS / EMS Therapy and Swimming have clinical evidence, but the findings point toward fatigue or impaired performance rather than a clear reduction in mental fatigue. These results should not be assumed to apply beyond the populations studied, particularly because the health status was not specified for Swimming and the TENS / EMS Therapy finding came from a clinical-condition context.
The remaining associations are anecdotal reports involving supplements and other compounds, including 5-HTP, Ashwagandha, Bacopa Monnieri, Black Seed Oil, Caffeine, Chaga, Choline (Bitartrate), Ginkgo Biloba, Lion's Mane, Magnesium, Tyrosine, Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate). Such reports can indicate that people have noticed fatigue in connection with an intervention, but they do not establish that the intervention caused it or predict how it will affect someone else. Because the health status was not specified for these reports, their relevance to particular clinical groups is also unclear.
Overall, these entries describe possible associations, not a consistent intervention strategy for changing mental fatigue. The clinical findings and anecdotal reports should be read separately, with particular attention to whether an intervention was studied in a defined population and whether the observed change represented fatigue itself or impaired performance.
Choosing guidance
Choosing between these options depends mainly on how much weight you place on the type of evidence and the population studied. TENS / EMS Therapy is the only option studied in a clinical-condition context, while Swimming has been examined in a broader, not-specified health-status context. These may be more relevant for readers seeking evidence connected to a defined setting, although the available information does not establish that either option is suitable for every person with mental fatigue.
Most of the remaining options are supported only by anecdotal reports, including supplements, exercise practices, and other approaches. Such reports can signal experiences worth investigating, but they do not show whether an option caused the effect, how it compares with alternatives, or whether the experience applies consistently to other people. They are therefore less useful for choosing among options when a reader wants a clear, reproducible expectation.
The available information does not specify how much of any option was used, how long it was used, or how quickly the reported effect appeared. It also does not provide a direct comparison between options or explain whether differing study findings reflect differences in participants, methods, or outcomes. Readers who need guidance based on treatment duration, onset, or a particular health condition will not find those distinctions resolved here.