It is nothing new. Comes year end – or sometimes the beginning of a new year – we all feel exhausted. As if the calendar has anything to do with our biological clocks.
Fatigue is a modern-day phenomenon, scientists say. It is a symptom and not an illness but shouldn’t be left unaddressed. There is a difference in sleepiness and fatigue, they say. If you are feeling tired because of too many late nights, often due to the silly habit of celebrating the end of the year with multiple parties, this is a normal side-effect of a temporary nature. But if you become aware of an extended energy low, it is time to find the cause.
Getting back to basics, looking at one’s lifestyle, is the first step in tracing your ‘energy robbers.’
- Look at your diet. Are you consuming too many junk meals, neglecting your fresh food intake of fruit and vegetables, lean meat or healthy proteins? Have you been overdoing your nicotine, caffeine or alcohol intake lately? Then look no further.
- Do you get enough exercise? As contradictory as this may sound, exercise is an energising activity for body and soul. If you have neglected your gym routine, try going for a walk to clear your head or build in a 30 minute activity to refuel your body. Try to do this on a daily basis or at least three times per week but do not exercise close to bed time.
- Look at your sleep patterns. If you eat well and exercise regularly but don’t get at least seven hours of sleep every night, you may undermine all your other efforts. While sleep requirements vary slightly between individuals, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. While many maintain that our sleep needs decrease with age, research has shown that a mere one percent of the population is made up of “short sleepers,” who only require four to six hours of sleep. Most older people still need at least 7 hours of sleep
- Stress remains energy killer number one. Active stress management – a topic in itself – has become a survival skill we all need to lead a productive, energised life.
