Key Takeaways
The real feeling
A tired mind can sound angry, even when it is only worn out.
The pressure
One stuck task can block the whole list, while WhatsApp can turn a phone into a loud pile of needs.
The turning point
A small “next step” can be enough to stop the inner fight and make sleep feel allowed.
Story & Details
What this is about
This is about WhatsApp, and how a flood of messages and calls can press on a tired night. It is also about a simple human problem: wanting to sleep, but feeling not allowed to end the day. The episode had already happened by Friday, December nineteenth, two thousand twenty-five.
When tiredness wears an angry mask
The night began with strong words and heavy swearing. It sounded like pure anger. Then the truth came out fast: it was tiredness, not rage. That kind of tiredness is cold and stubborn. It makes easy things feel hard. It can also create a sharp inner clash: the body can do the work, but the mind refuses, and the refusal becomes stress.
The list in tens, the cork in the bottle
A short pending list appeared, numbered in tens. It had one named blocker at the top, then routine work like social media, one small car-related chore, and several follow-ups with different people. The names did not matter as names. They mattered as pressure. Then came two lines that changed the scale: every WhatsApp message, and every WhatsApp call. That is not a task. That is a flood. A flood does not get “finished.” A flood gets narrowed.
The small move that changes the air
The shift was not about willpower. It was about friction. The night became about making the next step small enough to do without a fight. A calmer room helped. A slower exhale helped. A brief reset helped. The key idea stayed simple: closing the day does not mean completing everything. It means choosing one clear next step for tomorrow, then stopping.
A tiny Dutch phrase card
In the Netherlands (Europe), short phrases are common and useful when energy is low.
“Ik ben moe.”
Used to say: a simple, honest tiredness.
Word by word: ik = I; ben = am; moe = tired.
Tone: neutral. Natural with friends or at work.
“Ik ga slapen.”
Used to say: a clear end to the day.
Word by word: ik = I; ga = go; slapen = sleep.
Tone: neutral. A clean way to end a chat.
“Vandaag niet.”
Used to say: not now, not today.
Word by word: vandaag = today; niet = not.
Tone: short and firm. A softer variant is “Vandaag liever niet.”
The word that sounds like “three”
A small language question surfaced too. “Triage” can feel like it comes from “three,” because people often sort things into three groups. The origin is different. The word is tied to sorting and choosing, not to a number.
Conclusions
A softer ending
WhatsApp can make tiredness feel louder, because everything arrives at once. One stuck task can feel like a cork, because the mind keeps staring at it. On nights like this, the kindest truth is also the simplest: a day can end without being finished. One small next step can be enough to let sleep begin.
Selected References
[1] https://faq.whatsapp.com/797069521522888
[2] https://faq.whatsapp.com/694350718331007
[3] https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/how-to-fall-asleep-faster-and-sleep-better/
[4] https://www.etymonline.com/word/triage
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqONk48l5vY
Appendix
A1 Reader A beginner reading level that works best with short sentences, common words, and clear flow.
Archiving A way to move a chat out of the main view so the chat list feels calmer.
Blocker Task One stuck item that feels so heavy it stops progress on other work.
Closure A clean stopping point that allows rest even when work remains.
Dutch Phrase Card A small set of short Dutch examples with word-by-word meaning and a note on tone.
Exhaustion Deep tiredness that changes mood, focus, and the feeling of control.
Mute A WhatsApp setting that reduces alerts so the phone feels quieter.
Triage A quick way to sort a flood of items so the most important ones get attention first.
WhatsApp A messaging and calling app that can create pressure when many messages and calls arrive.
Wind-down The quiet time before sleep, with less light, less noise, and fewer triggers.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 