How Work Emails Keep Your Brain Stuck in Fight-or-Flight Mode
The constant barrage of urgent work emails can make your brain react as if a tiger is chasing you—a metaphor psychologists use to describe the body’s fight-or-flight response. Thanks to smartphones and round-the-clock connectivity, the brain struggles to switch off, triggering repeated stress signals.
Each notification or urgent message activates the brain’s alarm system, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This heightened state was originally meant to protect us from physical threats but now gets triggered by digital distractions and work pressures.
Over time, this chronic stress response can lead to mental fatigue, impaired focus, and even burnout. The inability to mentally disconnect from work blurs boundaries between professional and personal life, affecting overall well-being. Experts advise setting clear limits on work communication outside office hours and practicing mindfulness to help the brain relax and reset, preventing it from constantly feeling like it’s under attack.
