How To Handle Constant Exhaustion (Without Blaming Yourself) | Jay Michaelson

A conversation with meditation teacher Jay Michaelson about what to do when you're constantly tired, fried, and running on empty.

If you feel exhausted seemingly all the time—whether it's a low hum or something louder—you're not alone. In this conversation, Jay Michaelson, our Teacher of the Month for February, talks with executive producer DJ Cashmere about the relentless fatigue so many of us are experiencing, and what actually helps.

We talk about:

• Why your first move should be self-compassion (not self-blame)—especially in a culture obsessed with sleep optimization

• The important oscillation between being with difficulty versus reaching for an antidote

• HALT: the acronym that can save you (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)

• How to investigate exhaustion without trying to fix it right away

• Practical antidotes: screen hygiene, micro-naps, and yes, brain machines

• How our Stone Age brains are being hijacked by tech companies

• Why nap shame is "pure garbage" and you should kiss it goodbye

• The social conditions causing exhaustion that are beyond individual control

The through-line: this isn't about becoming superhuman or gritting your teeth through exhaustion. It's about relating to it differently, being kinder to yourself, and using whatever tools actually work—even if they feel unconventional.

Jay's guided meditations and live AMA sessions are available throughout February in the 10% with Dan Harris app. Find more from Jay at jaymichaelson.substack.com.

 

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