3 signs you have dialogue fatigue

3 signs you have dialogue fatigue

Before the pandemic, you might have enjoyed a long conversation on the back porch. Exchanging ideas or attempting to convince someone of your perspective. It was riveting, energizing. But after the pandemic, after years of isolation and limited practice in conversation, these heated discussions are hard work. It’s like getting back to the gym after a month off. Everything hurts and nothing is fun.

Or maybe you’ve ever enjoyed that kind of conversation and talking to people has always been hard and draining. No matter how you feel about conversations, we’ve all experienced dialogue fatigue. The absolute exhaustion we feel after a conversation. Drained of energy and convinced we will never speak to anyone again. Here are 3 signs you’re suffering from dialogue fatigue and what you can do to remedy it.

1 Your loved ones are exhausting

We all get tired after a long conversation with a stranger or acquaintance. But our friends and family should be a safe and energizing group we can count on to revive our moods. When talking to your family or close friends becomes tiring instead of energizing, it might be a sign of dialogue fatigue.

Remedy — Take some time alone. When even your safe group of family isn’t giving you energy, it could be a sign that you need alone time more than time with anyone else. Take a few days to recharge and make sure you’re setting aside time each day to be alone with your thoughts.

2 You don’t want to go out

If you’re an extrovert who suddenly wants to stay inside and watch movies and order in, this might be a sign that you are subconsciously avoiding conversations with strangers. You are aware of the inevitable small talk that awaits you at the restaurant, the open mic, and the double date because you typically love those unplanned conversations. Leading the table in thought-provoking dialogue, asking questions, and learning from others is typically your favorite activity. But if you’ve been frequently going out and having a lot of these conversations, you might just be fatigued from carrying the conversations.

Introverts can also experience dialogue fatigue from strangers, but perhaps on the opposite side of the conversation. Maybe you feel exhausted from responding to those thought-provoking dialogues, and questions and teaching others about yourself.

Remedy — Stay in! Take a break from the dinners and concerts and be alone with yourself. And when you can, surround yourself with family and friends who are easy to talk to. Strangers are fun to talk to for a while, but sometimes, the best way to recharge is to spend some time with yourself and your circle of friends who don’t need a lot from you conversationally.

3 — You’ve been “on” for too long

The phrase “being on” refers to moments in which we must put our socially presentable selves forward and be ready to carry on conversations. Hosting a dinner: you’re on. Presenting a project at work: You’re on. Visiting someone: You’re on. Going on a double date: You’re on. Checking out at the grocery store: You’re on. Getting your nails done: You’re on. Writing at a coffee shop: You’re on. Basically, if you would feel uncomfortable showing up in your pajamas, you’re on. Being “on” is important because this is when we make new friends, move our careers forward or learn new skills and enter new networks. But being “on” is also extremely taxing on our energy. If you’ve been “on” too often, you’ll likely begin to feel drained by the thought of being socially presentable.

Remedy — Be off.

We’re “off” when we are in environments where we can be our full selves, pajamas and all. With our family or friends or with ourselves. Being “off” is a chance to recharge, relax and not have to be acutely aware of our verbiage or how we appear, or what others think of us. We are with people who already know us.