When you're fatigued, you're more than just tired. Trust me- I've struggled with chronic fatigue for much of my life and only recently overcome it.
What distinguishes fatigue from just being plain old tired? First of all, fatigue is a persistent daily lack of energy that impairs our ability to function normally. There are dozens of causes, including anemia, underactive thyroid, diabetes, depression, food allergies and sleep apnea.
After 10 years of mind-numbing fatigue, my doctor helped me identify the primary factor that was triggering my exhaustion: a food allergy. Once I stopped eating that food (wheat), my fatigue immediately began to subside and I experienced a surge of energy that I hadn't felt since I was child.
What should YOU do if you are suffering from fatigue? First, make an appointment with your doctor. He/she will be able to determine whether or not your fatigue is the result of your lifestyle or a medical concern.
If you and your doctor determine that your fatigue is an effect of situational factors, not an underlying medical problem, you might want to reevaluate how you've been living.
Even after I gave up wheat, I realized that I'd need to make some lifestyle changes if I wanted to maintain my energy.
Here are my top 5 tips for beating fatigue and reclaiming your life:
- Get 8 hours of sleep on a regular basis. The most restorative hours of sleep occur between 10pm and 2am, so make sure you go to bed on the early side if you're not already.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes plentiful servings of fruits and vegetables. Eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day helps me avoid the inevitable "food coma" that I fall into when I instead scarf down 2 or 3 big meals.
- Cut out caffeine, alcohol, or drugs. I've never used drugs or been a big alcohol drinker, but I do love my coffee. Replacing coffee with tea, however, has helped me maintain my enerfy instead of "crashing" during the afternoon.
- Begin taking a daily multivitamin.
- Exercise at least 3-4 times a week, adding in meditation and/or weight training before or after your cardio routine.
