Lately, Iâve been feeling tired.
Not just tired like I didnât sleep enough.
I mean the kind of tired that slowly builds up when you're doing all the things you said you'd do, but it still feels like too much. Like the weight keeps growing, even though youâre checking the boxes.
Iâve kept my routines. Iâve stayed consistent. Iâve shown up.
But thereâs this heaviness under everything.
A quiet kind of exhaustion that doesnât go away with a nap or a day off.
And no, itâs not because Iâm slacking.
Itâs not about being unfocused or lazy.
And definitely not about willpower. Thatâs never been my approach.
Whatâs keeping me going â whatâs keeping me connected â is intentionality.
When Discipline Starts to Feel Heavy
You can have structure. You can have your time blocked, your goals clear, your habits in place, and still feel off.
Still feel like something isnât clicking.
Thatâs when discipline becomes mechanical.
Like you're just going through the motions.
And if youâre not careful, it turns into something you serve, instead of something that helps serve you.
But thatâs not what discipline is supposed to be.
At least not the kind I believe in.
To me, real discipline isnât about forcing yourself to push through at all costs.
Itâs about knowing when to pause. When to breathe. When to ask:
âIs this still aligned with what I care about?â
That question is everything.
Because sometimes the answer is going to be yes. In that case, remind yourself: youâre just tired. But to achieve your goals you got to keep going, and this too will pass.
Sometimes, more often than not, the answer will be no.
If that happens, itâs time to step back and realign.
Thatâs not weakness. Thatâs strength.
Thatâs Adaptable Discipline.
When Youâre Tired for a Reason
Thereâs a big difference between being tired because youâre doing too much of the wrong thing, and being tired because youâre doing something that matters.
When youâre disconnected from your purpose, exhaustion feels heavier. It turns into resentment. It makes you want to walk away.
But when youâre aligned, even if youâre tired, itâs different.
Thereâs a kind of peace that comes with knowing you chose this.
Youâre not just tired. Youâre building something.
That makes all the difference.
So if you're feeling like this, ask yourself:
Am I tired because Iâm lost, or because Iâm becoming?
If itâs the second one, breathe. Regroup. But keep going.
And if itâs the first one, donât panic. Just pause. Reflect. Adjust.
Thatâs the work.
A Bit of Science, Because It Helps Ground Things
Burnout is real. And itâs not about willpower.
Itâs not about needing to âtry harder.â
Itâs what happens when your energy keeps going out but never circles back in.
When your effort disconnects from your values.
The World Health Organization defines burnout as emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a reduced sense of accomplishment1.
But hereâs the thing: research shows that having a strong sense of purpose makes a difference. A big one.
One study found that people who see their work as meaningful are way more resilient under pressure. They still get tired, but they donât spiral as easily. Because their energy has a direction. Itâs not wasted2.
Purpose doesnât remove the struggle.
It makes it make sense.
So yeah, sometimes you donât need more rest, you need more alignment.
You need to remember why it matters.
Self-Awareness Isnât Enough
This part is important.
A lot of people talk about self-awareness like itâs the whole answer. And itâs not.
Self-awareness helps you see things. It shows you where you are, whatâs off, what needs to change.
But intentionality?
Thatâs what actually moves you.
Itâs what helps you make better choices when you're low on energy.
Itâs what keeps you from numbing out, falling into distractions, scrolling your time away.
Itâs what says, âOkay, I see the gap⊠now Iâm going to cross it.â
Self-awareness shows you the mirror.
Intentionality walks you through the door.
Someone Who Lived This Fully: Leonardo da Vinci
If weâre talking about intentional living, I always think about da Vinci.
He has always been an inspiration. At first I believed it was because my dad always talked to me about how much of a genius he was.
But no.
Itâs not just because he was talented.
But because he lived with direction. He didnât just let his curiosity drift, he followed it with purpose.
He studied anatomy, light, engineering, art â not for approval or fame â but because understanding mattered to him. Deeply.
He once said:
âKnowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.â
Thatâs what I admire. Not his genius. His intentionality.
The way he kept returning to the work. The way he created a life aligned with what he valued.
Thatâs what Iâm aiming for, not perfect execution. Just honest alignment.
So⊠What Helps Me Stay Aligned When Iâm Tired?
These arenât hacks. Theyâre just small things that help me come back to myself:
1. I ask myself one question at night:
âDid I live today in a way that reflects who I want to become?â
Itâs not about judgment. Just about staying honest.
2. I revisit my Why Stack (literally, itâs a three-part reminder)
When I feel off, I come back to this simple mental model I use:
The Why Stack.
Itâs made of three layers, like steps:
At the bottom is WHY â the deep reason I care about any of this
In the middle is MOTIVATION â the emotional driver that keeps me in motion
On top is GOAL â the outcome Iâm working toward
Let me show you what mine looks like lately:
WHY: I want to show my kids what discipline really looks like
MOTIVATION: I believe discipline is a form of self-respect
GOAL: Build something I actually believe in
When I lose clarity or get tired, I donât just look at the goal. I go back down the stack.
Because if the why is clear, the rest makes sense again.
3. I reflect once a week, no pressure
Every Sunday, I give myself space to ask:
What felt off this week?
What energized me?
What needs to shift?
Thatâs it. No optimization. Just reflection. Just presence.
4. I shrink the task but keep the promise
This one saves me all the time.
Some days I donât have the energy to write a full article. So I write a paragraph.
Some days I donât want to cook. So I cook something simple just to get it out of the way.
What matters is showing up, even if itâs small.
Thatâs discipline too.
Final Thought
Iâm still tired. But Iâm okay with that.
Because I know this tiredness is connected. Itâs not wasted. Itâs not random.
Itâs part of the process of building something that matters to me.
And that helps.
So if youâre feeling stretched thin, hereâs what Iâd ask you:
Are you tired because youâre off track?
Or because youâre on it?
If youâre on it, keep going.
And if youâre not, pause, reflect, and return.
Thatâs what Adaptable Discipline is really about.
Not perfection. Not hustle.
Just remembering why it matters, and continuing anyway.
Have a wonderful week!
đ§ Come Back to Who You're Becoming
You're not here to consume.
You're here to shift.
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World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/
Britt, T. W., Adler, A. B., & Bartone, P. T. (2001). Deriving benefits from stressful events: The role of engagement in meaningful work and hardiness. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6(1), 53â63. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.6.1.53
Wonderful article Camilo! Thank you!^_^
Makes so much sense đȘđđ