Fighting Fatigue

Why are we so tired? 

An occasional day of lethargy, sluggishness, depression, or general tiredness can be common and can be remedied by using natural de-stressing techniques and getting a good night's sleep.

Ongoing fatigue, however, is a sign of working too hard, pushing ourselves relentlessly, mild depression, not taking care of our bodies with the proper nutrition (our bodies use food to create energy--so a nutritious diet is vital), exercising (a good workout tends to invigorate us rather than deplete us), and getting proper rest (adequate sleep is very important to avoid becoming fatigue).  Ongoing fatigue could also be caused by Long Covid19.  Covid19 is a devastating viral pandemic that began in 2020.  Many who survived the infection has experienced long-term symptoms such as continued extreme fatigue.

Reasons for emotional fatigue:

Doing too much.  You're a room mother, a Girl Scout leader, and now you've decided to take on the school's annual fund drive. And you wonder why you're wiped out?

Doing too little.  Sounds strange, but boredom makes you tired.  Being motivated to accomplish goals adds a spark to our life. The secret is finding the right balance.

Stressful situations.  Major turmoil, such as changing jobs or moving to a new city, can make you feel exhausted.

Mental maladies. People who are lonely or depressed are prone to tiredness.

Reasons for physical fatigue:

Skipping needed nutrients.  Low-calorie diets, fasting, or just missing meals because of meetings or a too-busy schedule can wipe you out.

Not sleeping enough. There's no perfect number of hours you should sleep; different people have different sleep needs.  But if you wake up feeling exhausted morning after morning, you might need to add a few more sleeping hours in your day.

Not exercising.  Exercise is essential to feeling better -- both physically and mentally.

Not drinking water. Dehydration is an energy zapper.  Drinking and eating go hand-in-hand in giving your body the fuel it needs to feel good.

Fatigue as a Symptom of Disease:

Fatigue that is brought on by an unexpected loss of sleep, like being a new parent, or a stressful situation, like losing ones job, is usually easily remedied simply by taking good care of yourself.  But ongoing fatigue can be the signal that something more serious is going on in your body.  It can often be a symptom of:

anemia
arthritis
a slower-than-usual thyroid (hypothyroidism)
an underlying sleep disorder
cancer
chronic fatigue syndrome
Covid-19
diabetes
heart disease

If you have persistent fatigue, it is important to inform your doctor.

So many people in our fast-paced world are just overwhelmingly tired.  However, no matter how tired you are the following tips can help to remedy the situation--whether you are physically tired or emotionally tired.

• Eat more nutritious foods (raw, organic)
• Drink more healthy water
• Exercise
• Take whole food supplements and/or healthy smoothies
• Get plenty of rest
• Unclutter your life--clean your house, avoid toxic foods, toxic people, and toxic places
• Meditate--find some quiet time for yourself
• Stop smoking
• Lose weight properly--no yo-yo or extreme dieting
• Stop watching too much television
• Avoid commercial sleeping pills; try natural sleeping supplements
• Drink warm milk infused with lavender at bedtime
• Sleep in a cooler room rather than a warmer one
• Sleep in a sleep mask
• Do no drink stimulants (caffeine) before bedtime
• Don't worry; it will work itself out
• Think pleasant thoughts; such as that warm, sunny vacation on the beach
• Stay hydrated
• Limit coffee to one cup per day in the morning
• Limit energy drinks to one can per day in the morning
• Limit or avoid drinking alcohol, a depressant