Signs and Causes of Mental Block

Many obstacles can result in a mental block, impairing your ability to complete tasks and demonstrate your full potential. Robin Arzón, Peloton's Vice President of Fitness Programming, offers advice on how to deal with this common type of mental fatigue.

What Is a Mental Block?

A mental block is a barrier that can impede your ability to complete important tasks or complete your creative process. A mental block is also known as writer's block in creative fields, but it is relatively common among workers across industries. This block can be caused by a variety of obstacles and can last for varying lengths of time. A type of exhaustion or self-doubt is usually a significant cause of a workplace mental block.

People who are experiencing a mental block frequently know they are capable of doing more than the work they are producing, so these mental blocks can be frustrating. Nonetheless, there are ways to deal with this psychological impediment to self-actualization. Rest, time away from work, and increased self-esteem can all help to alleviate mental exhaustion.

4 Signs of Mental Blocks

A mental block can appear in several ways. If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from a mental block:

1. Comparison: When you compare yourself to others, you may be wasting energy. Comparison feeds self-doubt and makes it difficult to focus on work, sometimes resulting in a mental block.

2. Irritability: If you are more tense than usual or prone to rage, you could be suffering from a mental block. Those who are trying to succeed at work but feel they are falling short may channel their frustration into other areas of their lives.

3. Procrastination: When a person is experiencing a mental block, they may wish to avoid working. Procrastination can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including emotional eating, taking walks, playing games, fidgeting, and internet scrolling.

4. Tunnel vision: If you believe you can only complete a task in a certain way or if you reject creative input from peers, you may be suffering from a mental block, which also prevents you from gaining new perspectives.

5 Causes of Mental Blocks

Your mental block could have multiple causes. Here are five possible causes of mental blockage:

1. Imposter syndrome: Self-doubt can obstruct your ability to succeed. If you believe you are unworthy of your work or are unable to demonstrate your full potential, you may become trapped in a vicious cycle of imposter syndrome.

2. Sleep deprivation: If you do not get enough sleep, are stressed, or are coping with an illness, you may experience workplace side effects such as mental block.

3. Mental fatigue: Burnout is common when people overwork, which can lead to mental fatigue or fogginess in the mind, making it difficult to remember specific ideas, words, or tasks.

4. Perfectionism: If you are a perfectionist, you may become paralyzed by fear of failing. Because mistakes are how we learn, failure is an expected part of the job.

5. Uncomfortable workspace: To complete your to-do list and explore your thought processes, you must be in your comfort zone. Consider rethinking your office space. Add personal touches and use negative space to create rest areas to see if it sparks your creativity.