4 Self-Care Tips for When You’re Feeling Exhausted

If you’re suffering from low energy, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that up to 2.5 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue and about 45% of Americans report symptoms of fatigue regularly. A lot of it has to do with the hectic lifestyles we live, but in some cases, it’s about the decisions we make. If you’re constantly tired, then maybe you should look at your life and see where you could make some adjustments. Here are a few helpful self-care tips if you’re feeling exhausted.

Sleep Better

The best way to combat fatigue is to get quality sleep. If you’re currently sleeping less than seven hours, you’re probably not sleeping enough. You shouldn’t sleep too much either as it could actually make you feel tired during the day. So, try to aim for the seven to nine hours of sleep per night mark.

You might also need to look at your room and see if it’s conducive to sleep. Get a good mattress and stop looking at screens at least two hours before you get to sleep. This is because they can trick your circadian rhythm, or internal clock, and make it harder for you to get to sleep.

Eat Better

The foods you eat will also make a big difference in your energy levels. Sugar is one of the most important foods for energy, and you have to use it wisely depending on what you’re doing. There are only two times when simple sugars like the ones you find in candy or white carbs are good. You should only eat them if you need immediate energy for a workout or physical activity, or if you’re recovering from a workout as it will help replenish your glycogen levels fast. As well as this, you should only be eating complex carbs. If you eat a lot of simple sugars in your everyday life, you may have found the reason for your energy problem. 

Things like trans fats and other food items can lower your energy levels, and, unless you’re a nutritionist, it can be difficult to know which foods are good for energy and which ones to avoid. If you don’t know how to build a solid diet, there are many different health and wellness products like meal plans that you could try, so do check them out.

Consider Switching Jobs

Fatigue is not always physical, or at least it doesn’t always start that way. If you’re feeling out of it at work and lack motivation, then you might be burning out. One of the clearest signs that you’re burned out is if you had tons of energy and were excited about your job at the beginning, but you’re only going through the motions now.

If you feel like this is your case, don’t be afraid to let your employer know. If they have wellness resources, they will direct you to them, but even if they don’t, you’d be surprised at how supportive they can be if you are usually a good worker for them. So, don’t be afraid to tell them your situation and see if something could be done.

Control Stress

Stress is one of the biggest sappers of energy, and the less stress you experience in your life, the better. If you’re doing everything in the house and you’re paying the bills, ask other people in your family to do their part. Connect with the people around you and build a support system. You should also consider trying some activities like Tai Chi or Yoga, and, if you aren’t on an exercise regimen right now, get on one right away as physical activity is one of the best ways to combat stress.

These are all things that you can do if you’re constantly low on energy. You should also think about consulting a doctor right away as exhaustion might be a sign of something more serious.