# Beware of Deep Work Fatigue_Strategies for Sustainable Productivity ![[pexels-tara-winstead-8386699.jpg]] In the early stages of my PhD journey, I often faced a perplexing dilemma: despite having numerous tasks to tackle, _I struggled to know where to begin_. With a mountain of literature to read, countless notes and ideas from discussions with my supervisors, and plenty of assignments, I frequently found myself overwhelmed. There were days when I would stare blankly at my computer screen, unsure of what to do next, especially at the start of a day or after returning from a break. In contrast, I now have the ability to seamlessly start and stop work, **entering a state of deep work whenever necessary**. Even with thousands of tasks in my system, I know exactly what I need to accomplish each day without feeling panic or anxiety. However, this newfound productivity has led to another issue: **Deep Fatigue**. While I’m not sure if anyone has coined the term "deep fatigue," I use it to describe the state of exhaustion that follows prolonged periods of deep work. ## Continue Reading and Discussing - [Beware of Deep Work Fatigue: Strategies for Sustainable Productivity | Substack](https://ptkm.substack.com/p/beware-of-deep-fatigue-strategies) - [Beware of Deep Work Fatigue: Strategies for Sustainable Productivity | by PTKM | Obsidian Observer | Sep, 2024 | Medium](https://medium.com/obsidian-observer/beware-of-deep-fatigue-strategies-for-sustainable-productivity-ca20c9efa224) - [[Beware of Deep Work Fatigue_Strategies for Sustainable Productivity_Video]]