When you're genuinely tired, rest feels good. But if you're mentally checked out, rest doesn’t really do much for you since you keep “waking” up in the same situation. You’ll take time off, feel okay for a bit and still end up dragging your feet midweek. That’s because your body wasn’t really asking for sleep or a break in the first place. Maybe what it’s really wanting is the original spark back.
In such situations, most will assume they just need to push themselves harder. Maybe set a new goal, add a deadline, or create more pressure for themselves because “I work better under pressure”. Basically, unknowingly trying to find any form of excitement/spark that’s currently missing. These don’t really help when you’re feeling off. Times like these when you’re just not getting much from the work you do, when there’s no pull, no interest, no spark, it starts to feel like you’re moving through the motions for no reason.
Take time to really analyze what you are going through and be honest with yourself. You most likely will find out that what’s missing isn’t the energy to put in more effort, but engagement. Something has to matter again to get you engaged like before. Otherwise, it will keep feeling like these are just tasks and deadlines with nothing behind them and that can be unmotivating.