Friction vs. Fatigue | Life Friction Reset (Part 7)
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Life Friction Reset — Part 7
You rest. You sleep. You take a break.
And yet — nothing really improves.
If rest isn’t helping the way it should,
you may not be dealing with fatigue at all.
I used to assume I was tired.
So I rested more. Cleared weekends. Took time off.
The exhaustion kept returning — not because I lacked energy, but because something kept draining it.
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- Why rest sometimes fails
- What fatigue actually is
- What friction actually is
- How to tell the difference
- What to fix — and what to leave alone
Why Rest Sometimes Fails
Rest works when the problem is depletion.
But rest doesn’t remove resistance.
If your day requires constant setup, recovery, re-deciding, and mental cleanup, energy drains even while resting.
What Fatigue Actually Is
Fatigue is a lack of fuel.
When you’re fatigued:
- You want to stop.
- Rest feels relieving.
- Energy returns with sleep, food, or time.
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What Friction Actually Is
Friction is energy loss caused by resistance — not by effort.
When friction is the issue:
- You feel busy but unproductive.
- Rest helps briefly, then fades.
- Simple things feel heavier than they should.
Friction doesn’t empty your tank. It punctures it.
How to Tell the Difference (A Simple Test)
Ask yourself one question:
“When I stop, do I recover — or do I stall?”
Recovery points to fatigue. Stalling points to friction.
This distinction changes what actually helps.
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What to Fix — and What to Leave Alone
If you’re fatigued, protect recovery.
If you’re dealing with friction, redesign the system.
Trying to rest away friction leads to self-blame. Trying to optimize fatigue leads to burnout.
Try This This Week
- Pick one task that feels heavier than it should.
- Ask: “Is this tiring — or resistant?”
- If resistant, change the setup, not your effort.
Not Everything That Feels Like Tiredness Is Fatigue
Once you can tell the difference, you stop fixing the wrong problem.
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Continue to Part 8 · Designing a Low-Friction Life
👉 Save This Series for Your 2026 Reset
Part 8 · Designing a Low-Friction Life
How small design choices remove daily resistance.
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