How to cope with the sense of emptiness after work, feeling like everything is just passing by

Hello! I'm thrilled to have met you on this platform, and I hope that my sharing has been a valuable experience for you.

❤️ Emptiness represents our inner emptiness. We always feel the need for something to keep ourselves busy and to replenish our inner selves. Why do we feel empty after work? Because in the process of being busy, we feel full and temporarily relieve our inner emptiness. In fact, our hearts are empty and we are constantly reaching out to the outside world, always trying to grasp something to give us support, otherwise we will be at a loss as to what to do. If we stop, we will go crazy and become irritable. But there is a solution!

From a Buddhist perspective, it's the greed in our hearts that's at play. And it's a wonderful thing! You can gain a sense of worth, a sense of fulfillment, or a sense of honor or achievement at work. No matter what kind of feeling it is, you crave it so much that you become obsessed with it. The more you rely on it, the more you will feel empty when it disappears. As Buddhism teaches, the beings in the evil ghost realm are constantly eating, never full, always in a state of extreme hunger. In fact, your current state of mind is just like that of an evil ghost. And isn't that exciting?

It's time for a change in mindset! When you feel busy, accomplished, superior, in control, or important at work, remember that while these feelings are pleasant, they can also be harmful to us. To maintain these feelings at work, we need to put in a lot of effort, which can tire the body and mind and make us anxious. But if we think about it carefully, we cannot always be in these feelings because everything in the world is impermanent and changeable. Even if you can maintain this state of mind, when you retire, you'll have the opportunity to embrace a new way of thinking. When you no longer have power, beauty, or wealth, you'll discover new ways to gain a sense of importance, superiority, and control. When these feelings are gone, but you are already used to them, you'll have the chance to discover new sources of support in life!

It's time to recognize the damage these three feelings are doing to us. We can't be attached to them because they're just illusions that can't be grasped. So, what kind of mentality do we need to establish to overcome these three feelings? We need to establish a mentality of love! At work, we don't work to obtain these three feelings. We work to nourish our bodies, fulfill our responsibilities to our families, raise our children, and help more people. When we think this way, our work is still the same as before, but changing our mindset gives us love! This is our inner energy that constantly fills our hearts.

This makes us spiritually rich, unlike those evil spirits who are never satisfied and constantly grasping for more. When we stop, we are overcome by hunger and restless. But if we can treat everything at work with an ordinary heart, we will be relaxed and not tired. We will be able to do our work well!

Hello, dear questioner!

Hi, I'm Yi Ming, your heart exploration coach!

I think a lot of people can relate to what you're going through.

It's totally normal to feel a bit empty after work sometimes. We all have those days where we can't quite find the meaning of life.

I'd be really happy to chat with you and I hope I can give you a different perspective.

1. Take a moment to think about what your emptiness might be trying to tell you.

Just picture this for a second. If someone really loves their job and gets a lot of value and satisfaction from it, even if they're tired, they'll still feel pretty good, right?

Of course, even when we do a great job at work, we can still feel this sense of emptiness.

I'd like to refer you to an article by Bi Shumin, called "Blind to Happiness."

There's no shortage of happiness in life, my friend. It's just that we sometimes need a little help to see it.

The text says that a Western newspaper released a list of "who are the happiest people in the world" based on voting and authoritative voting.

I'm happy to say that the approximate order is as follows:

1. A doctor who has successfully operated on a patient and is seeing the patient off after the operation.

2. A mother beaming with joy as she holds her precious baby after giving them a nice, relaxing bath.

3. A sweet little kid who has built a sandcastle on the beach, looking at the result of his hard work.

It's so sad that many of us are blind to happiness, even though we all possess it.

Of course, it can sometimes feel empty and meaningless.

How do you see your life and work?

How do you see your life and work?

How can we all experience happiness and contentment in our lives?

It's something we all need to seek out and explore together!

It's amazing how when our thoughts change, everything outside changes with it!

We all get that feeling of emptiness from time to time.

It really depends on how these feelings affect you.

Some folks have dreams that are a bit out of reach. It's totally normal to have big goals and aspirations! But it's also important to make sure we're putting in the work to make those dreams a reality. Otherwise, we might end up feeling a bit unreal.

We all feel different levels of emptiness at different times. It's so important to try to see how your own feelings of emptiness express themselves.

Make it your mission to find happiness!

Happy people don't let themselves feel empty.

2. Focus on the present, actively seek the meaning of life, and make appropriate adjustments. You've got this!

You said, "I feel like my mind is wandering and I'm seeing everything pass by... I don't feel anything." It's okay, sweetheart. We've all been there.

It's totally normal to lose interest in things you used to love.

But every discomfort is also a chance for us to think and grow.

At work, we get to experience so much meaning and value!

But when we feel like we've lost something or don't have anything to lean on after finishing a task, it can make us feel even emptier.

I truly believe that the core problem is a lack of a sense of meaning.

Just like a construction worker who loves his job and gets a kick out of seeing the building he's worked on come together bit by bit, he doesn't feel empty after work is done. Instead, he feels a great sense of accomplishment!

I'd love to hear about your own experiences at work!

I'd love to know what this job means to you!

We all get stressed at work sometimes, don't we? It can make you feel a bit numb, can't it?

Hey there! I just wanted to check in and see if you're feeling overconsumed at work.

Hey there! We just wanted to check in and see if you're on track with your goals.

We truly believe that after such a review, your feelings will gradually return.

Please, take your time to rediscover your feelings.

We all need to talk about this important topic of meaning in life.

Cong Fei Cong said,

The good news is that you can experience a sense of meaning in your life! All you have to do is be with your feelings and live according to your inner feelings.

I'd highly recommend reading the book "Finding Meaning in Life" by the wonderful psychologist Viktor Frankl.

It's totally normal to feel empty when we can't find meaning in life.

Please, just share these!

Wishing you all the best!

Hello there! Your question really resonated with many of us in the workplace. We've all been there, after a stressful or relaxing day at work, sitting in the car on the way home, looking out the window, feeling like you're in another world, and your mind is a blank.

If this kind of empty time goes on for too long, we might even start to wonder if it's really empty or not.

After a long period of self-observation and self-awareness, I've found that this state of mind often occurs in two situations. The first is when you're so busy at work that you don't even know what you've achieved by the end of the day! The second is when you work step by step throughout the day, and although you're not physically tired, your mind will be tired because you're lost and don't know where the meaning lies.

I know it can be confusing, but I promise I'll try to explain. The kind of emptiness we're talking about has some similarities with emptiness, but it's not exactly the same.

It's so common to feel like we don't really know the value of our work or the meaning and hope of life.

The good news is that emptiness also has a positive meaning! It's a kind of protective mechanism in our minds that allows us to temporarily isolate ourselves from external things when we are physically and mentally exhausted or confused. It's as if we have entered a state of hypnosis. This state of mind protects us from further external stimuli, allowing our hearts to temporarily remain blank, to relax and catch our breath. It can be said that this is also a kind of rest and buffer.

Sometimes, not having a sense of meaning is also a kind of meaning. As long as it exists, it is a kind of meaning. It's like this: if you feel this emptiness, then this state of emptiness has its own meaning. The meaning lies in the fact that it triggers us to think about our state of existence.

This kind of thinking may not necessarily lead to results. Not everything has a result, but as long as we maintain this state of thinking, it means that we are still alive, and I think, therefore I am.

Similarly, our work and lives don't necessarily have to have a grand significance. Much of the meaning is self-imposed, and that's okay! If you're someone with a strong sense of meaning, I suggest you periodically or at any time review your life and work. You can write in a diary or record it with a computer.

For instance, if you feel a bit empty and confused after work and like your life has no real meaning, you can write down your thoughts to help you understand what you really want.

I'd love for you to record the physical and mental state when you are in a daze, just as you mentioned in your question about your own feelings.

It's so important to record your thoughts about today's work and what progress you've made. This is the source of your sense of meaning, so it's really valuable to make notes.

For instance, you were your usual proactive self in your interactions with others today, and you got some great feedback from them, too!

Guess what! I learned something new today with my colleagues and leaders.

For example, we can always make a little more room for improvement in how we manage our time today.

For example, I earned another day's salary today. If I've done a good job and given more than I've taken, then I'm a valuable person who gets more than he or she pays for, and that I will one day achieve my higher pursuits. If I've done a good job and given as much as I've taken, then I can live with myself and be true to my conscience. If I've done a good job and given less than this day's salary, then I will strive to make up for it the next day. Today, I can find my own value in things other than my work, even if it is just simply resting and doing something idle. This is a kind of supplement to the value of work, and is done in order to better devote myself to work and life the next day.

It's so important to remember that all meaning doesn't come from us. It's found in every event, big or small. Your summary and recap will make your day so much more than just ordinary and mediocre. It'll be a filter with various effects, allowing you to live a happy or peaceful life.

Isn't it amazing how the same life can have different colors in the eyes of different people? The event is still the same event, the person encountered is still the same person, but the perspective from which they are viewed has changed, and so has the world.

This is why, even though all living things suffer and life is full of disappointments, there are still people who choose to continue living. It's not that they're weak or mediocre, but that they've found their own meaning in this world. All they need is for that meaning to be recognized by themselves. If others can understand it better, great! If not, that's okay too. We can still be certain, clear, and at peace with ourselves.

I wish you the very best of luck in finding your own meaning in life. There's absolutely no rush! There's always time, and we'll always find what our hearts desire.

Hello, questioner!

I am sunshine. I am grateful to have met you on the Yi Xinli platform!

I commend the questioner for their self-awareness in bringing up such a topic: "What do I do about the emptiness I feel after work? It feels like I'm skimming through everything."

"Emptiness" is a complex, subjective feeling. It's vague and personal, and it's not easy to see or describe. Does this inner emptiness make people feel as painful as depressive or anxious emotions?

Through such awareness, the questioner can see what the deeper "truth" is. This helps them discover themselves and facilitates better psychological growth, which brings about more possibilities.

I've been thinking about this topic and I'm going to share my thoughts, just for the OP's reference.

Let's first sort out the specific situation described by the questioner and then interpret and analyze it.

After work, I feel like my mind is wandering and I can't focus on anything.

My mind is wandering, and I am unable to focus on anything. I am completely indifferent.

You have lost interest in things that used to interest you.

There is no feeling of meaning in life.

I relaxed a bit the other day, and I feel a little better. I am certain that it will be the same after the stressful work starts again.

From the brief description of the questioner, it is clear that:

[1] Daily busy work, but the questioner must have a clear work goal and be able to fully complete the "mission." It is clear that the questioner is both mentally and materially dependent.

[2] After being busy, your mind wanders, that is, you cannot concentrate, and you feel "insensitive"?

[3] You feel that life is meaningless, don't you? That's the feeling of helplessness that comes after exhaustion at work.

[4] After physical and mental relaxation, the previous state of nervous anxiety can be relieved, but then the cycle will start again.

In view of the actual situation of the questioner, you should try to deal with it like this and give it a try.

First, accept your feelings in the moment and discover the truth behind your sense of emptiness.

[1] How long has this "sense of emptiness" lasted? What major events/personal relationships/emotional changes has the questioner experienced before? This "sense of emptiness" is not static. It is a dynamic experience of multiple conflicting feelings within us.

I urge the questioner to engage in some self-reflection. Have you had a similar experience?

[2] In today's fast-paced world, people often appear to have it all together, but inside they're empty and lonely. This leads to a life of boredom, uninteresting, loneliness, and isolation.

[3] Let's be real. This isn't just about the person asking the question. Many people, after struggling with their daily work, will feel this way. This is especially true when they don't have a clear direction or goal in life.

Second, we must explore and change the "emptiness/void" or "meaninglessness" in our hearts.

[1] Adjust your life goals based on your personal characteristics and personality traits.

An "emptiness mentality" often arises in two situations: when there are no ambitions and when there are unrealistic goals. The latter situation causes one to lose motivation because it is difficult to achieve them.

To overcome emptiness, you must adjust your life goals in line with your current situation. This will help you to utilise your potential and enrich your life.

[2] Actively seek external support. The original poster proactively came to the psychological platform to seek help, and you should do the same. Enlist the support and help of family members and friends, including the support of society, to gain inner strength, especially in gaining inner understanding, empathy, etc. This will help you avoid feeling empty and lonely/bored.

[3] When you feel empty, read widely and extensively to find your interests and hobbies. Then, find your own sense of value, achievement, and satisfaction in life. I believe reading is an excellent way to fill the emptiness. Reading allows us to find solutions to problems. The more you read, the more knowledge you will have, and the more fulfilling your life will be.

I highly recommend two books for the questioner: Finding the Meaning of Life and Being Your Most Optimistic Self.

[4] You must enjoy your work, find a sense of self, a sense of worth, a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in life. Working selflessly is the best way to get rid of emptiness. When we are energetic and fully engaged in our work, we will forget the pain and troubles brought on by emptiness. We will see our own social value from our work, making life full of hope.

[5] Adjust your goals reasonably. Set goals that you can achieve with effort, not ones that are beyond your limits.

If you're struggling to achieve a goal, it's time to shift your focus. Make time for your hobbies outside of school or work to calm your mind. When you have a new hobby, you'll find a new pursuit. With a new pursuit, you'll gradually adjust the content of your lives and be freed from the state of emptiness, welcoming a new and colorful life.

[6] Make your life balanced and follow a regular routine. If your work life is less interesting, make it interesting, especially outside of work. Have more optimism and excitement in your spare time. At the same time, experience the richness of life.

[7] If all else fails, talk to a professional psychologist. They can help you sort out the truth behind the questioner's complex inner feelings (a sense of emptiness). They can also help you find an "antidote" as soon as possible and discover the meaning of life that is right for you.

In summary, this is my answer to the question, combined with the questioner's question. It is my personal opinion, and I stand by it. I hope it will stimulate further discussion and bring about more thinking. I also hope it will inspire and help the questioner. I welcome more in-depth exchanges. I pray that the questioner will soon get out of the "sense of emptiness" and experience a fulfilling work and life as soon as possible!

I am the sunshine, the world, and I love you! ?

Hello, question asker! Give her a hug. Life is hard, and you've worked hard!

The feeling of "distracted, seeing everything pass by without feeling it" immediately made me think of a psychological concept: "self-defense mechanism." I will share this concept with the original poster, who can make a judgment based on their own specific situation.

1. Self-defense mechanism

For a detailed introduction to self-defense mechanisms, read American psychoanalyst Blackman's book, "Masks of the Mind: 101 Psychological Defenses." You can also learn more from Wu Zhihong.

The term "defense" refers to a way in which the brain can exclude feelings from consciousness. Specifically, defense is a psychological operation that removes one or more components of unpleasant emotions, such as thoughts, feelings, or both, from consciousness.

2. Suppression and isolation

Both repression and isolation are basic defense mechanisms in adults. Unpleasant emotions consist of both thoughts and feelings, and defense is shutting off one or both.

Shutting down thoughts is suppression. Shutting down feelings is isolation.

Men tend to isolate emotions, while women tend to suppress thoughts. If a couple had a fight yesterday, the man may still remember the whole thing perfectly today, but feel like he doesn't feel much anymore. This is isolation; the woman may not remember the whole thing, but she can still experience strong feelings. This is suppression.

The questioner said he didn't feel anything, so I'm convinced he's using the psychological defense mechanism of repression.

3. Awareness

The questioner must decide whether they dislike their work. There are three main types of unpleasant feelings: anxiety, depression, and anger.

The questioner should try to feel what kind of emotions they felt before activating their psychological defenses. They should ask themselves why they felt that way.

This step-by-step process will help you discover your inner "wounds." What associations do you have?

If you find it difficult to do this, you should consult a professional counselor.

The questioner must set aside enough time every day that is completely their own. After two days off, the questioner said that they felt like they were back to normal.

This means you completely shut yourself away in a "small dark room" during your daily work. You only let yourself out for a breath of fresh air during your holidays.

There is no difference between this and locking yourself up in prison. You would never abuse yourself like this.

Tell yourself you are strong and capable of protecting yourself. Be grateful for your own psychological defense mechanism, which has protected you when you were weak.

You have the strength and courage to face the challenges of life. The defense mechanism can "rest up" and leave the rest to you.

The questioner should also look at the value auction game I mentioned in my answer to the question "Why does it feel like everything is going quite well, but there's just a blockage in my heart?" This will help them with their sense of meaninglessness.

Best wishes!

Dear question asker, I hope this message finds you well. Reading your question gave me a sense of warmth and comfort.

Due to the demands of daily work and life, the questioner currently finds himself lacking a clear goal or direction. This has led to feelings of being adrift, nervous, and depressed.

From the perspective of an emotional intelligence coach, it could be said that emotions have an impact on our results.

Emotions can often be strong and fleeting, and in some cases, they may have a negative impact on work. Emotions are usually more subtle and longer-lasting, and they typically do not interfere with the task at hand. Our emotional experiences can be seen as parallel to our work, with a corresponding and lasting emotional consistency throughout our work.

It is only when we encounter something at work that evokes negative emotions and stress that we realize how much we need to take care of ourselves.

After a brief period of relaxation, I feel somewhat better. It is often the case that when we maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, we can see the positive aspects of a situation and recall the beautiful things related to it. When we are feeling depressed, we often focus on the negative, which can result in cognitive and perceptual memory biases. Once we feel back to normal after relaxing, it might be helpful to stimulate ourselves more in order to find a way that suits us, so that our positive emotions can last and grow naturally.

For instance, you might consider working with positive and optimistic people, seeking out someone to talk to, or reading or listening to your favorite books or music. These activities can help you maintain a positive outlook and continue to thrive in your personal and professional lives.

It may be helpful to consider that if we can feel good, our work will be in good and optimal condition. It is possible that positive emotions can help our brain function more efficiently.

In the question, I also noticed a sentence that made me think the questioner might benefit from considering it. I empathize with the sentiment that life may feel meaningless at times. It can be helpful to reflect on whether what we once enjoyed is still something we truly want in our lives. This can be a challenging crossroads, but it's a natural part of life's journey. We can all benefit from exploring our own thoughts and feelings. I offer this advice with the hope that it might be helpful to the questioner.

It is rare in our lives to find something that lasts a long time. It is important to learn to accept whatever state we are in. If we cannot accept it, it can be difficult to live in a positive way and we may fall into pessimism and negativity.

You may find it helpful to read "Be the Most Optimistic Version of Yourself" and "Positive Psychology" to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your emotional awareness.

It might be helpful to communicate with a professional teacher to gain a more detailed understanding of the specific issues you're facing.

My name is Yingying, and I am a counselor.

I hope the world and I can bring you some joy.

I empathize with this sentiment of emptiness. While the specifics may vary, prolonged work can be exceedingly exhausting. Our energy is depleted by the demands of the external world, yet we are still confronted with numerous tasks. These tasks can be likened to water in a sponge; even when fully saturated, a small amount remains.

It appears that external expectations are becoming increasingly demanding. In the past, it was possible to achieve desired outcomes with minimal effort. However, in the current competitive environment, this is becoming increasingly challenging. Despite investing significant effort, individuals may still perceive their own inadequacies.

It appears that you experience difficulty in meeting the standards set by others. Additionally, your level of job satisfaction seems to be affected. Do you feel a sense of fulfillment in your work? Presently, it seems that you experience a sense of emptiness following the completion of your work, as if you were daydreaming. This may be attributed to physical exhaustion.

Additionally, it can manifest as an emotional void, wherein the motivation to persist in one's work is unclear. Over time, one may lose the capacity to love one's work, leading to a sense of superficiality and lack of positive engagement with one's tasks. Prolonged exposure to this state can be highly uncomfortable.

It is possible that the individual may exhibit a lack of interest in a multitude of activities or may experience a profound sense of despondency. In such instances, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive mental health assessment to ascertain the necessity for psychological intervention. The intense work rhythm may precipitate a perception of diminished self-esteem. It is therefore recommended that the individual allocate additional time for rest and relaxation, and engage in meditation practices to foster inner tranquility.

Please clarify the meaning of ZQ.