After an exhausting 48 hours on call, Dr. Faye Begeti got into her car to go pick up her kids and put her hospital ID badge into the switch where her car key was supposed to go.

That’s an example of stored habits and it is what happens to our brains when we get too tired to think. Have you ever been so tired that you just went to auto-pilot? Yeah. Me too.

I have been reading Dr. Begeti’s thoughts on “low power mode” brain. She writes, “Our attention, working memory, ability to plan ahead, motivation and willpower all depend on the executive brain.” It’s oriented toward the future and helps us determine our goals.

Going through the day as a leader, our executive brain deals with challenges that often seen to grow as the day goes along and that can deplete the executive brain. This is what she calls “Low power mode.” You have seen this on your phone. Part of the battery slows down. It isn’t as bright or as quick. Our brains try to conserve energy and delegates more decision to the autopilot brain, which uses stored habits.

“When no habit is stored, the autopilot has to make a decision on what to do. However, being a more primitive brain region, it does not have the forward-thinking capabilities of the executive. If there is no habit sequence stored, the autopilot will default to the easiest option, only considering the ‘here and now.’”

When you are in this mode, your brain is too tired to think. Lots of people in this mode find themselves reaching for the phone to distract themselves. “Unfortunately, when we start to check our phone at our desk, our autopilot thinks that this is a crucial part of our routine.” We are more likely to start doing this when our brain is getting tired.

So what’s the solution? Take a break. Walk. Meditate. Close your eyes for five minutes. Look at your tasks for the day and re-prioritize. Breathe. Give your brain a chance to recharge.