Combat Fatigue And Increase Your Vitality
We live in a society of tired and worn out people. Many people have desk jobs or sit around all day, which, while not using much actual energy, tends to make us feel zapped and more tired because physical movement begets energy. We run around from work to chores to home where we face more chores without the needed energy to accomplish these tasks. We spend weekends stuck to gaming systems, television screens and spend little time in the fresh air. Continue reading for 10 ways to combat fatigue and increase your vitality.
We spend time wishing we had more energy. We take unhealthy shortcuts by downing energy drinks to keep us going, not realizing that these drinks contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine that have landed many people in hospital emergency rooms. The energy drink industry, which nets an estimated $10 billion per year is resulting in a rising number of patients, many of whom are young, in being treated in emergency rooms for serious complications related to the high intake of caffeine in energy drinks. These complications are headaches, anxiety, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks.
Many of us are overweight and partake in a diet filled with processed fake food that does not nutrify our bodies and only weighs us down and makes us tired and sick.
Fortunately, there are natural and effective ways you can combat fatigue and increase your energy and vitality. Some of these techniques and habits can also slow the process of aging.
How to fight fatigue:
Make sure there isn’t something physically wrong. There are several physical reasons why you might have chronic fatigue, from thyroid disease, sleep apnea, anemia, heart disease to arthritis. The only way you can determine if you have any of these conditions is to see your doctor for a physical evaluation. Some can be treated or reversed enabling you to gain your energy back.
Pay attention to the medications you are taking. Some medications have fatigue as a side effect and this doesn’t always go away after continuing taking the medication. Read the package insert that comes with medication for the side effects. If you feel especially tired after starting a new medication, talk to your doctor.
Dehydration. Keep a water bottle filled and chilled to keep from getting dehydrated. Research on athletes show that being dehydrated zaps the energy from their activity. Even if you’re not athletic, staying hydrated will give you that added bit of energy that you deserve.
Sleep. The best way to get enough sleep is to go to bed early and get 7-9 hours of sleep. Naps are other ways to freshen up your energy level. Try for short naps, no longer than 30 minutes. Anything longer than that might make it difficult for you to sleep at night.
Omega 3 fatty oils. Fish oil capsules are good for you in many ways. Omega 3 fatty oil can boost your energy and give you quicker reaction times. They could also restore physical vigor.
Become aware of your personal circadian rhythm. Everyone is different in terms of when they have the most energy. Find out if your a morning person or a night owl and work with that instead of against it. If you have especially demanding activities to do, choose to do them when you have the most energy to work with.
Lose weight. Carrying around extra weight can be exhausting. The only way to rid yourself of that exhaustion is to start a healthy exercise and diet program that will help you shed pounds and feel more vigorous. Start with reducing your caloric intake and being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day.
Eat smaller meals. Large meals zap you of your energy because the body needs to use a lot of energy to digest them. Think of a time you ate at a buffet, where everyone naturally eats too much food, versus a meal that included a salad. More likely than not when you left the buffet you felt exhausted and wished someone would wheel you out of there, versus the energy you felt after a raw whole food meal such as a salad. Small and frequent meals will keep your blood sugars from fluctuating, giving you steady amounts of food energy throughout the day.Â
Exercise. While it would seem logical that exercise would make fatigue worse, actually the opposite is true. Being physically active tends to boost your energy levels, not to mention maximize the function of many of your body’s organs. Exercise can help you lose weight, which can further significantly increase your energy.
Try yoga. Yoga is one exercise that has been shown to improve confidence, lessen fatigue, and clear the mind. Many types of yoga are ideal for just about any fitness level. Yoga has been found to be helpful by research in men and women over the age of 65, who generally have a great problem with fatigue.
Try these 10 simple and effective approaches and watch your fatigue levels decrease and your energy levels increase!