The reality is that many of us are unintentionally training our brains to feel tired every single day. And it’s not necessarily due to stress or a lack of sleep. It could come down to the small, subtle habits we repeat over and over without noticing.
Let’s start with one of the biggest: forward head posture.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Posture on Brain Function
The way we sit, work, and use our devices has a direct impact on how our brain and body function. Forward head posture (FHP)—a common result of looking down at phones and hunching over laptops—is more than just a neck or back issue. It actually affects your brain’s ability to regulate balance, energy, and coordination.
A 2025 study published in Scientific Reports found that individuals with forward head posture demonstrated significantly increased corticomuscular coherence (CMC)—a measure of the brain’s effort to maintain balance and physical control.[1] This over-activation, especially in the brain’s beta and gamma frequency bands, suggests your nervous system is constantly “on,” using more effort for basic tasks like standing or walking.
In other words, posture misalignment can lead to chronic neural fatigue, making you feel physically and mentally drained—without a clear reason.
Screen Overload = Neural Overload
Let’s also talk about screen time. Your brain isn’t wired to process fast-moving visuals, constant notifications, and information overload without a break. But between work meetings, emails, social feeds, and streaming shows, your nervous system is getting zero downtime.
Excessive screen exposure—especially without posture awareness—can hyperstimulate the prefrontal cortex, the brain region tied to decision-making and attention. Constant digital multitasking actually reduces your cognitive efficiency, which can lead to brain fog and a sense of burnout even on days where you “didn’t do much.”
Stress Without Awareness: The Exhaustion Loop
When your brain is constantly juggling physical misalignment, digital overload, and low-level stress, it adapts. Over time, these repeated patterns condition your nervous system to expect fatigue. The brain learns to function in “low power mode,” mistaking this constant effort as the new normal.
That’s why even with rest, your energy doesn’t bounce back. Your nervous system has been trained into a state of overdrive and exhaustion.
How to Break the Cycle
Rewiring this pattern begins with awareness. Start by improving posture—especially during screen time. Set your monitor at eye level, sit with your ears over your shoulders, and take micro-breaks every 30 minutes to stretch and reset.
Reduce screen exposure outside of work hours, and embrace stillness—walks without your phone, reading a real book, breathing exercises. Support your nervous system with movement, hydration, and mindful rest.
And if fatigue or tension is still hanging on, it might be time to take a closer look at how your spinal alignment and nervous system are functioning. A gentle, non-invasive check can reveal a lot about what’s going on beneath the surface.
If you’re ready to feel focused and alive again, book a visit at Norwest Chiropractic and let us help you support your brain and body from the ground up.
Sources: [1] Anwar, G., Moustafa, I.M., Khowailed, I. et al. (2025). Comparison of corticomuscular coherence under different balance paradigms in individuals with and without forward head posture. Scientific Reports, 15, 22985. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06603-8 [2] Loh, K. K., et al. (2016). Understanding cognitive fatigue: The role of effort and executive control. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1065. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01065