Have you ever felt extreme tiredness to the point that you feel unable to function? Are you bordering on exhaustion rather than feeling a little ‘low?’ Feel like your mental and physical capacity is suffering? Well you may unknowingly be suffering from fatigue and it’s about time you do something about it.
Millions out there are struggling to get up and out in the morning and feel the effects lasting throughout the day, most notably at work where we feel like the lack of mental and physical capability is stealing our productivity. So what to do then?
Below are the five common causes of fatigue and ways to tackle them so you can be more productive, maintain razor-sharp focus and have bags full of energy throughout the day.
Like everything in life there is a cause and effect and fatigue is no different. There are both physical and mental symptoms of fatigue, which can frustrate you if you don’t know how and why they are occurring. Whether it be stress levels, nutrient deficiencies or lack of self worth, fatigue is out to stop you in your tracks so it’s time you understand what can be done about it.
What does mental fatigue feel like?
A lock of focus, the inability to concentrate for long periods, a wandering mind, and lack of creativity is what mental fatigue feels like. Once the brain is clear on what it has to do and the mind isn’t playing tricks on you, you will find that your focus improves, and your motivation is back.
And what about physical fatigue?
Struggling to get out of bed, always feeling like you want to sit down, lacking drive and energy to do the things you love are all signs of physical fatigue. If your brain isn’t functioning then the body will start to shut down too. Your brain’s primary role is to keep you safe and sound and is more concerned with surviving than thriving so your body won’t be allowed the energy to perform everyday tasks. So on to the five main sources of fatigue…
1. Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep is too common nowadays. It can start off with a few late nights and before you know it months have passed and you haven’t been able to remember the last decent night’s sleep you’ve had. During sleep your brain and muscles go in to repair mode. Hormonal and metabolic changes take place and your cells get a chance to regenerate. Sleeping helps improve your mood, energy and vitality in both the short and long term.
Here are my top three supplements to help you get a peaceful night’s sleep:
1. Melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain which regulates your sleep cycle.
2. Valerian root. Got a lot on your mind which is causing you to keep awake at night? Well this supplement will help reduce anxiety and help you relax so you can get great sleep.
3. Magnesium. Studies show most of the population lack magnesium. In order to help your muscles relax and calm your nerves take this mineral daily.
2. Stress
Yes I went there! I said the ‘s’ word. You’ve got stress bombarding you from all angles and your adrenal glands are not happy about it. The walnut-sized glands sit on top of your kidneys and their role is to manage stress levels. Be careful how you treat them as they can only take so much damage. When you are suffering from fatigue you can be sure that your adrenals are crying out for help. Overworked adrenals lessen your ability to conceive, maintain energy and perform sexually as well as maintaining sugar levels and reducing inflammation.
How to manage stress? Start by not taking life too seriously. Stress is only your perception of what’s going on around you so the minute you realize life isn’t as bad as you make it out to be then that will help you on your way to reducing your stress levels.
3. Spending too long working out
Over the years as a fitness and well-being professional, I have seen people slave out in the gym for hours on end. I get that if you want to have your dream physique you’ve got to work hard in creating it but there is a difference between working hard and working smart. Studies by researchers show that after 45 minutes your testosterone levels drop and your cortisol levels rise which is what you don’t want considering you are looking to drop your stress levels. In reality most of us spend too long in the gym doing things that aren’t relevant to our workout. Focus on getting quality work done within the 45-minute mark. Otherwise you are placing unnecessary stress on your body and will find it harder to recover increasing your chance of fatiguing.
4. Dehydration
Considering you are a minimum of 70% water, don’t you think it would be helpful to keep up your water intake throughout the day? A lot of the time exhaustion is actually dehydration in disguise. We don’t consume near enough water as we need leaving us feeling tired, lethargic and heading for the nearest coffee machine. Your cells, just like your car need the right liquid to work so make regular stops to the gas station to get you feeling full of beans again.
How much water should you be drinking? In his book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, the leading figure in hydration, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, recommends one liter of water per 50 pounds of body weight. I would stick to that great advice as I’ve personally seen great results off the back!
5. Too much caffeine
This point follows on perfectly from point #4. Coffee is the most addictive drug on the planet and its high caffeine content is the cause of fatigue in most people but instead we overload thinking we are dealing with fatigue. Too much of the stuff causes the adrenal glands to overwork and feelings of tiredness and lethargy start to kick in. Its addictive qualities will have you reaching for a cuppa every time you’re feeling a little low but be warned if you’re overloading on caffeine and have a toxic diet. Expect negative effects on quality of life.
There you have it, a clear guide to what is causing fatigue and knowing what you now know you can get on with building the right strategy that fits your life to make sure you can enjoy it without feeling tired, drained and demotivated.
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