How the Mental Fatigue Score is calculated (0–100)

This calculator is intentionally simple, because the point is clarity — not clinical precision. You rate six inputs on a 1 to 10 scale. Five inputs represent “fatigue pressure” (higher usually means you feel more mentally taxed). One input — Recovery — represents a protective factor (breaks, downtime, and restorative rest). Because recovery reduces fatigue, we invert it inside the formula.

Here’s the full idea: first, we translate each slider to a common direction (higher = more fatigue), then we compute a weighted average, and finally we scale it to a clean 0–100 score. The weights reflect what tends to impact mental fatigue for most people: exhaustion and sleep debt are big drivers; overload is close behind; brain fog and decision fatigue are often the “symptoms” you notice; and recovery is the stabilizer that can lower everything else.

• Exhaustion, Brain fog, Decision fatigue, Sleep debt, Stress/overload stay as‑is (1–10).
• Recovery is inverted into “lack of recovery” so that higher means more fatigue: LackOfRecovery = 11 − Recovery.

The score is a weighted average in the 1–10 range. Weights add up to 100%:

• Exhaustion: 22%
• Sleep debt: 20%
• Stress/overload: 18%
• Brain fog: 14%
• Decision fatigue: 12%
• Lack of recovery (inverted recovery): 14%

These are not “medical” weights — they’re practical. If you feel mentally exhausted and you’re not sleeping restoratively, most people notice focus and mood drop fast. Stress and overload amplify that drain. Brain fog and decision fatigue often show up as the day‑to‑day consequences. Recovery can’t erase life’s demands, but it can create a buffer that changes how heavy those demands feel.

After the weighted average, you get a number between 1 and 10. To convert it into a friendly percent‑style score: Score = ((WeightedAverage − 1) ÷ 9) × 100, clamped to 0–100 and rounded. This means a “1” on every slider produces 0 (clear & steady), and a “10” on every fatigue slider with “1” recovery produces 100 (depleted).

• 0–24: Clear & steady — you have mental bandwidth and your basics look protected.
• 25–49: Mildly taxed — you can function, but friction is rising; add recovery early.
• 50–74: Heavily taxed — performance and mood often dip; simplify and protect sleep.
• 75–100: Depleted / burnout‑risk zone — a strong signal to reduce demands and seek support.

The most useful part isn’t the number — it’s the direction. If your score is trending up week over week, you’re accumulating fatigue. If it’s trending down, your system is recovering. Even a 5–10 point drop can feel like “my brain is back.”

Real‑life score examples (so you can calibrate)

Numbers are personal. Two people can have the same score but different causes. That’s why the calculator also tells you your top drivers. Here are a few realistic examples to help you interpret results:

• Example A — “High performer, low recovery”
  Exhaustion 7, Brain fog 5, Decision 6, Sleep debt 4, Overload 7, Recovery 3 → Score ~67.
  You’re doing a lot, and your brain is paying the bill. Best move: protect recovery (short breaks + one lighter evening).
• Example B — “Sleep debt domino effect”
  Exhaustion 6, Brain fog 6, Decision 5, Sleep debt 8, Overload 5, Recovery 6 → Score ~63.
  Your biggest lever is sleep. Two nights of earlier wind‑down can drop this score surprisingly fast.
• Example C — “Decision overload day”
  Exhaustion 4, Brain fog 4, Decision 8, Sleep debt 4, Overload 6, Recovery 5 → Score ~49.
  You’re not exhausted — you’re over‑choosing. Best move: pre‑decide the next 3 actions, reduce choices, and do one task.
• Example D — “Depleted zone”
  Exhaustion 9, Brain fog 8, Decision 8, Sleep debt 9, Overload 8, Recovery 2 → Score ~92.
  This is a “stop digging” moment. Reduce demands, ask for help, and focus on recovery. If you feel unsafe or hopeless, seek professional support.

Notice how each example suggests a different fix. Virality comes from “this feels like me,” but usefulness comes from: what’s the smallest change that reduces your score? For many people, the fastest lever is either sleep debt or recovery — because improving either one changes multiple symptoms at once.

How to use this calculator (and make it actually helpful)

A score is only valuable if it leads to an action you can do. Here’s a simple way to turn this into a weekly habit: pick a consistent day (many people choose Sunday evening or Monday morning), select Last 7 days, calculate your score, and save it. Over a month, you’ll start seeing patterns: certain meetings spike overload, certain habits lower recovery, certain sleep weeks raise everything.

After you calculate, the tool identifies your two highest contributors (treating “lack of recovery” as a contributor). Those are your best targets. Then choose one tiny change for the next 48 hours: reduce one demand, pre‑decide one recurring choice, or add one recovery block. Recalculate after 2–3 days. If the score moves down, you found a lever. If it doesn’t, try the next lever.

Mental fatigue often behaves like a threshold system. You can tolerate load for a while, then suddenly feel foggy or irritable. Lowering load by “just a little” can move you below the threshold again. That’s why the tool aims for a practical 0–100 scale: it makes small improvements visible.

• It is: a self‑reflection snapshot, a pattern‑finder, and a way to start better conversations with yourself (or your team).
• It is not: a medical test, a diagnosis, or a replacement for professional care.

If you have persistent fatigue, severe sleep problems, or symptoms that worry you, consider talking to a qualified professional. Tools like this are best used as a mirror — not a verdict.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this the same thing as burnout?

  Not exactly. Burnout is a broader, long‑term state that can include emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy. Mental fatigue can be a short‑term snapshot (today or this week). But consistently high scores can be a useful early warning to adjust load and recovery.

• Why does Recovery get inverted?

  Because in the final score, we want every component to point in the same direction: higher means more fatigue. If you select high recovery (lots of breaks/downtime), that should lower your fatigue. Inversion lets the math represent that effect cleanly.

• How often should I calculate my score?

  Weekly is best for trends (Last 7 days). Daily can be helpful during a stressful period, but avoid obsessing over one number. Think “direction over perfection.”

• My score is high — what’s the fastest thing I can do?

  Choose one lever: (1) protect sleep for two nights, (2) remove one non‑urgent commitment, or (3) add one recovery block (walk, quiet time, stretch, shower, early wind‑down). Then recalculate in 48–72 hours.

• What if my score is low but I still feel “off”?

  Your fatigue might be emotional, physical, or situational in a way this quick tool doesn’t capture. Use it as a prompt: what’s different today? pain, illness, conflict, boredom, loneliness, or lack of meaning can feel like fatigue too.

• Does this store my data?

  No. Your inputs are processed in your browser. If you choose to save, it stores only the score and timestamp locally on this device.

• Can I share my score?

  Yes — use the share buttons or copy link. If you share, consider adding context like “Last 7 days” and your top driver. It makes the score more meaningful (and less judge‑y).