When Indifference Becomes a Habit - And How to Get Yourself Back

How indifference slowly drains your energy - and what to do instead.

On Monday, we talked about indifference - the quietest killer of connection and ideas. It doesn’t just slow us down - it drains energy, emotions, and meaning.

But how do we move past it?

Today, let’s go deeper.

When indifference starts to feel normal

You know that feeling when everything turns gray?

You wake up - and you’re already tired.

Tasks are lined up, meetings on the calendar, but the inner “want” is gone.

What once inspired you doesn’t even register now.

Even people you once lit up around barely get a reaction.

This is what indifference looks like.

At first glance, it’s just exhaustion.

But if you look closer - it’s a signal.

Not just from your body, but from your life.

—

Indifference as a silent virus

It sneaks in quietly.

You stop reacting. You stop engaging. You stop caring.

But indifference isn’t neutral - it spreads like a virus.

It eats motivation, creativity, connection… life.

You’ll often see it in corporate culture.

New hires come in, full of energy and ideas - only to be met with cold smiles, budget excuses, or flat-out no’s.

Soon, they stop raising their hands. They stop trying.

They go from hopeful to checked out - clocking in at 9, clocking out at 5, switched off in between.

And sometimes it shows up on the street - a person collapses, and people walk past.

Luckily, most of us still care enough to stop.

But even rare moments of collective indifference leave scars - or worse.

—

When indifference helps

Paradoxically, indifference can also be a gift - when used wisely.

You don’t have to give your energy to people who drain it.

You don’t have to respond to every comment, chase every metric, or say yes to every invite.

You can be indifferent to junk food, shallow praise, or noisy social media.

That kind of indifference isn’t weakness.

It’s focus.

Just don’t mistake it for emotional numbness.

—

A personal moment - when I knew I’d gone too far

A few years ago, I was all discipline and no margin.

Running 120km a month. Working full speed. Waking early. Never stopping.

One morning, I was already dressed and standing at the door - when something in me said: no.

I took off my shoes, lay down on the couch, and covered my face with a pillow.

Not from tiredness.

From emptiness.

I thought I was lazy. Weak. Procrastinating.

But really, I’d been indifferent - to myself.

I didn’t listen. Didn’t care.

Everything went outward - to people, results, deadlines.

But my inner world? Ignored.

—

Coming back starts with one question

“How do I treat myself?”

Not as a project.

Not as a task.

But as a person.

Do I feel warmth toward myself?

Do I care for myself the way I would a friend?

Coming back doesn’t require a big decision.

It starts with one small action.

The kind that triggers the domino effect.

Try this:

• Turn on “Do Not Disturb” in the evening.

• Cancel a meeting if your body says no.

• Go for a massage.

• Take a walk with no goal, no purpose, no productivity.

—

What if you let go of the old and tried something new?

Every creative person you admire - they didn’t start with the perfect plan.

They started with a step.

Maybe you’ve been quietly wanting to write a blog.

Start a project.

Shift your rhythm.

Sleep better.

Feel less guilty for resting.

Maybe now is the time to stop waiting - and begin.

—

I’m working on a guide

It’s called Gentle Launch: Plan, Focus, Movement.

It’s for people who feel tired, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of burnout.

Inside, there’s a 5-day step-by-step guide with micro-actions - built from experience.

Simple, doable, and gentle.

If that sounds like something you’d use - just leave a “Want the guide!” comment or tap the heart under this post.

That’ll help me decide if I should publish it sooner.

—

P.S. If you found this post helpful - share it with someone who might need it too.

Let’s choose warmth over indifference.

Connection over withdrawal.

And small steps over silent burnout.