1) Check yourself before you wreck yourself
If you are feeling unusually fatigued, it could be a sign of an underlying health problem – even if you have no other symptoms. It is therefore a good idea to book an appointment with a health care provider to have yourself checked out. Most health problems are so much easier to treat if they are discovered at an early stage.
Are you on any medication? Make sure to mention this to the health care provider, because many medications have fatigue as a side effect. Also, two or more medications can interact with each other, making your tired in a way that each of them wouldn’t do individually.
2) Go to sleep
Yes, this might sound like a no-brainer, but if you are constantly feeling tired, it might be because you aren’t getting enough sleep. How much sleep we need is individual and will also vary significantly throughout our lives. Perhaps you normally do fine with 7 hours of sleep, but there is something going on right now in your life that makes your body crave 8 hours instead.
If it is difficult for you to get a long night of uninterrupted sleep, don’t fret. The long uninterrupted sleep ideal is actually a pretty modern invention – our ancestors didn’t sleep like that. Try to schedule your life so you get the opportunity to catch up on some sleep during the day. Maybe short nap during your lunch break? Or clear out some of your normal post-work activities from your schedule and replace with some shut-eye. Sometimes, a date with the Sandman is actually more important than Pilates class.
Regrettably, we often down-prioritise sleep in our life. For some reason, it is socially acceptable to get a baby sitter for a dinner date with your spouse, but not for nap together. It is considered perfectly normal – and healthy – to turn off your phone while at the relaxing day spa, but somehow irresponsible to turn it off for a nap on the couch. Try to get rid of these preconceptions and start prioritising sleep in your life.
3) I like to move it, move it!
Numerous studies have shown that physical activity can boost our energy levels, vigour and overall quality of life. Physical activity will, among other things, improve the working efficiency of your heart and lungs.
You don’t to take up kick boxing or practise for a marathon to enjoy the invigorating effects of physical activity. Power walking (walking at a brisk pace while moving your arms in an exaggerated way) is an exercise that is easy to get started with and comes with a low risk of injury. In addition to boosting your energy levels, consistent power walking has also been shown to decrease levels of bad cholesterol, increase levels of good cholesterol, lower a high blood pressure and lessen the risk of developing serious health problems such as stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.
Another great activity is swimming, which you can do even if you have knee problems or similar issues that make it tricky to power walk or run.
4) Are you drinking the right amount of water?
Being dehydrated will quickly deplete our energy levels and reduce us to hollow husks mentally. On the other hand, drinking excessive amounts of water can also be detrimental to our health. The key is to find a balance. Listen to your body and find out what is right for you, and be ready to adjust your water intake quickly as needed, e.g. after physical exercise, in warm weather and in dry environments. When you go to the bathroom, take a look at your pee. Is it a pale yellow (straw coloured)? Good. Is it darker than that? You need to drink more. Is it clear or almost not yellow at all? You might be overdoing it with the drinking.
