The audacity to feel tired has become a luxury.We’re not longer allowed to say we’re exhausted unless there’s something visibly demanding to point to, like heavy lifting, night shifts, endless meetings and/or screaming children. If we do not have physical proof of strain, our tiredness doesn’t count. We’re not allowed to complain. We’re not allowed to say ‘I’m tired’, unless we’ve somehow earned it in a way others can easily recognize and validate. Mental exhaustion? Emotional fatigue? The kind of tiredness that comes from strategizing endlessly, from carrying invisible stress, from constantly anticipating the next thing? All the things we do whilst sitting down, staring at our computers and/or our phone screens? That’s not seen as real work that would’ve warrant a rest. That’s easily dismissed by society as ‘being lazy’. Whenever we try to express that kind of tired, we’re always met with a scoff, a side-eye or the all-too familiar phrase: ‘But you’re not doing anything.’ As if staying still means we’re not strategizing. As if not moving means not working. As if being tired is a privilege reserved for people who are older, wealthier, overworked or those who’ve somehow ‘earned’ their right to rest. It’s unfair, but then again, this is the lie we’ve been sold: that unless we’re breaking our backs, visibly drained and emotionally unraveling in front of others, we haven’t earned the right to slow down. Feeling tired is no longer seen as a natural human signal. It’s treated like a privilege. The right to be tired now feels like a status symbol, an exclusive membership reserved for those with obvious, measurable burdens. It’s a quiet tragedy, really, the way we’ve been taught to ignore our own exhaustion. But just because society dismisses our fatigue doesn’t mean we have to. Listening to your body is not a weakness. Slowing down is not failure. It’s resistance, and it’s necessary, especially in the world that never slows down. Sincerely, Cherie. (I’ve also submitted this writing to be published on Journal Kita, a Medium publication for Indonesian writers. Since it’s still under review, feel free to check out all their other writings). The Whiffler is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell The Whiffler that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments.
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Tuesday, 1 July 2025
The World Won't Let Me Feel Tired
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