Why Staring at Screens Drains You Faster Than Work Itself

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He wrote
“I don’t get it
I have not done anything heavy today
just emails and spreadsheets
but I feel more exhausted than if I had gone for a run”

When I asked about his day he told me he had been at his desk since 8:45 AM
with only two short breaks
One at 11:00 AM to grab coffee
and another at 1:15 PM for a quick snack

By 3:00 PM his eyes were burning
his head felt heavy
and his focus was gone
He described it as mental fatigue without actually doing much work

What does that mean

Screens demand constant micro focus
Your eyes lock in on artificial light for hours
and your brain processes rapid information without pause
This drains your energy even when your tasks are not physically demanding

The brain interprets this as overload
not because of effort but because of input

Why this matters

If you have ever

closed your laptop feeling strangely tired after a light day
felt eye strain and brain fog long before the workday was done
or noticed you were more drained after screen tasks than hands on tasks

then you have felt the cost of digital fatigue
It is not about how much you work
but about the way your nervous system reacts to constant visual stimulation

What I would love from you

When was the last time a screen heavy day left you more tired than expected
Did it hit your eyes
your head
or your ability to focus

Reply to this email and tell me your experience
I read every single one

Stay sharp
Your Neurotweak Team

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