In Thailand’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, energy can vanish long before outlets close for the day. A respected psychologist highlights subtle daily habits that quietly sap vitality, beyond overt stress. A recent Forbes summary of this expert’s findings stresses that mindfully addressing these small drains may be essential for Thailand’s increasingly urban, tech-heavy society, where hustle is praised and energy is a precious resource.
The insights matter as Thailand navigates a cultural shift between traditional wellbeing and modern, always-on living. The country’s emphasis on “sabai” and communal balance sits alongside rising burnout in workplaces and classrooms. Understanding the hidden energy drains is thus a public health concern, not just an individual challenge.
The psychologist identifies three main culprits: scattered attention, decisions fatigue from minor choices, and “performative wellness.” These reflect how contemporary routines can wear down even the most resilient minds, especially among Thais who spend long hours online and on mobile apps.
First, scattered attention emerges when people juggle several tasks, screens, and conversations at once. With smartphones constantly at hand and a thriving culture of LINE messages, TikTok clips, and multi-tab browsing, Thai users are particularly prone to energy leaks. A review in Developmental Review links heavy media multitasking to poorer performance on attention tasks, even for people who believe they are skilled multitaskers. The brain’s executive attention system—important for goal-directed focus and emotional regulation—can be compromised, the psychologist explains, especially with frequent multitasking.
Thai studies echo these concerns, showing digital distraction contributing to stress among students and office workers. Mindfulness practices—once rooted in temples—are now part of Thai schools and corporate wellness programs, yet the struggle persists. In part, this reflects broader social shifts as digital life grows more influential in daily routines.
The second habit is the ongoing mental energy spent on trivial decisions. Small choices—what to wear, what to eat, which playlist to play—add up to cognitive fatigue. This “decision fatigue” is well documented in health psychology, showing that repeated minor choices can erode self-control and attention. In Thailand, while family routines once streamlined decisions, the rise of food delivery apps and endless online options intensifies the load. To counter this, the psychologist suggests batching decisions—planning meals, outfits, and routines in advance—to conserve mental energy for more important tasks.
Thai workplaces are seeing a shift toward individual autonomy, with thousands of food choices and scheduling options now available at the tap of a screen. The guidance is simple: reduce daily decision burdens by pre-planning and sticking to tried-and-true routines when possible.
The third, and perhaps most distinctively modern, challenge is “performative wellness.” The urge to showcase self-care online can turn genuine rest into a performance. On Thai social platforms, clean eating trends and stylish yoga poses are popular, yet they may add stress for some people who try to keep up with curated demonstrations. The expert warns that when self-care becomes an obligation for appearances rather than personal renewal, energy is wasted on image rather than restoration.
Thai wellness advocates emphasize authentic, lifestyle-aligned self-care. Whether it’s a solo meditation session in a city park or a relaxed family meal at home, genuine well-being should fit one’s life rather than a digital ideal. The tension between social comparison and personal health remains strong, particularly among urban youth.
These ideas resonate with traditional Thai wisdom, from “jai yen yen” (keeping a cool heart) to values of harmony and balance. As Thai society embraces global wellness trends, there is potential to reframe practices toward true energy preservation. Public health and education leaders are increasingly promoting digital literacy, structured schedules, and realistic self-care strategies aligned with Thai culture.
Looking ahead, the implications span schools, workplaces, and daily life. For students and workers, the path is clear: cultivate focused attention, simplify routines, and reclaim wellness for real benefit—not for social display. Employers can support this by encouraging periods of deep work and reducing constant online availability. Educational institutions can offer modules on decision-making and stress management, weaving mindfulness rooted in tradition with modern cognitive approaches.
The broader public is reminded that sustainable energy and mental health require more than chasing trends. Real well-being starts with recognizing and adjusting everyday habits: limit multitasking to protect attention; batch or automate small decisions; and pursue wellness activities for personal rejuvenation, not online validation.
Thai readers are encouraged to begin with small steps: turn off non-essential notifications, finish one task before starting another, batch minor decisions, and choose self-care practices that genuinely nourish your body and mind. By adopting these mindful shifts, Thai households, workplaces, and communities can reclaim energy and resilience for the demands of modern life.
In-text attribution notes: Research is discussed as drawn from a psychologist’s findings summarized in a Forbes article, with context and regional relevance supported by studies and institutions such as Thai health authorities and local wellness advocates. Data and perspectives from Thai health authorities, mental health research, and mindfulness initiatives in education and industry are integrated to reflect local applicability.