Tiredness and Fatigue - 10 Best Ways To Combat Tiredness

Fatigue is the medical word for feeling tired most or all of the time. People may describe it in a variety of ways, using terms such as weak, exhausted, weary, worn-out, etc. This level of tiredness will vary between individuals. Although many people are able to carry on with their normal routine, others may find it difficult to cope.

Sometimes this tiredness can feel overwhelming and leave you with little energy, or motivation, for everyday tasks. Tiredness affects everyone differently.

Many people with chest, heart and stroke conditions experience tiredness or fatigue.

This fact sheet provides information, tips and strategies that you can build into your daily life to help reduce tiredness and conserve energy and ultimately it'll reduce fatigue as well. Try to accept that you will have good days as well as days when you will feel more tired.

There are many things that can be done to make the problem of Tiredness more bearable. Here are some suggestions to help you cope:

1. Pace yourself- Give yourself time to do things. Alternate work / chores and rest by doing things in small stages. Do most energy-consuming tasks at the time of day / week when you have most energy, but be flexible and plan rest periods.
2. Get good quality sleep- It is important to get as good a quality of sleep as possible. A few hours deep and restorative sleep is more beneficial than hours of poor quality sleep.
3. Eat energy giving foods- Aim to eat a well balanced diet with foods rich in iron and vitamins (e.g. liver, spinach, fortified cereals). Slow burning carbohydrates are good as they provide energy gradually. Examples include: whole grains, pasta, rice, cereals, oats, beans and lentils. Sweets and chocolate give you a rush of energy that only lasts for a short time so try not to eat these regularly. Eating small meals more often is easier for the body to digest than 3 large meals. It also helps to provides energy more evenly throughout the day. Cook when you have more energy and freeze some of the prepared food for the days that you feel tired. Have a stock of healthy readymade meals for the days when you don't feel like cooking.
4. Learn to relax- Sometimes the harder you try to do something the harder it is to do, which can cause tension, anxiety and frustration. All this takes more energy. Being relaxed lets you use your energy more efficiently. You could try breathing exercises, meditation, listening to soothing music or talking to someone you trust and letting go of your anxieties.
5. Every day do something you enjoy- A positive attitude, outlook or experience helps enormously in boosting energy levels. Boredom is a very common trigger for feelings of tiredness. Pick up your old hobbies or try a new one and do a little every day.
6. Have light exercise- Regular light exercises have been shown to decrease tiredness and fatigue. If you are used to regular exercise try to continue with this if you feel able. Even taking short walks in the fresh air may help to boost your energy levels. Before undertaking any gentle exercise please, consult with your doctor.
7. Lose weight to gain energy- If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you'll feel much more energetic. Apart from eating healthily, the best way to lose weight is to be more active and do more exercise.
8. Get assistance- Domestic chores use up a lot of energy and you could get help with them. Friends and family could help with shopping and housework or social services may be able to arrange help for you. It doesn't mean you are becoming dependent, it means you are using your energy to its best advantage.
9. Contact your family doctor- Tell your doctor how you feel and make sure you have had an up-to-date physical. Besides evaluating any medical reasons for your tiredness, your doctor also may check to see if your fatigue could be a side effect of your medication.
10. Talking therapy beats fatigue- There's some evidence that talking therapies such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might help to fight fatigue. See your GP for a referral for talking treatment on the NHS or for advice on seeing a private therapist.

Some of the suggestions will be more effective for some people than others. Experiment with different combinations. Find what works best for you, plan ahead and don't be afraid to ask for help.-By Brad P Yantzi

20 Simple Ways to Beat Fatigue this Winter

By Paula Hynes
AS Autumn with it's breathless colours of flames and golds comes to an end, we await the arrival of Winter and it's own definitive beauty.
Yes, there is no point kidding ourselves, it will be pretty damp and, at times, downright. It will be cold and chilly and for some the task of dragging ourselves out of bed in the dark mornings will get more and more difficult. The glare of oncoming headlamps will play havoc with your eyes as you head homeward bound during the dark evenings in manic traffic. And as you reluctantly adjust to the shorter days and lack of natural daylight and sunlight, you are also faced with the fact that Christmas, and it's inevitable rush, is heading this way, as it always does, at full speed!
All the ingredients to ensure a good dose of winter fatigue I'm sure you'll agree - but help is at hand! It doesn't have to be unbearable. If you are feeling a little lack lustre, yawning at a ferocious rate and basically have just about enough energy in the evenings to slump down on the sofa in front of the box, you'll be tickled pink you opened this page! You can bring back that 'joie de vivre' and add a little peppering of genuine verve back into your life by trying some (or indeed all) of these 20 simple ways to boost your energy levels this winter!
1) SLEEP - Get as much sleep as you need to and remember your body really needs it at this time of year.
2) VITAMINS - Supplements such as Vitamins A, B and E are all important for well-being. If you want to avoid supplements, however, you can ensure that you eat the necessary foods containing these essentials. Try using 1 teaspoon of Brewers Yeast in a glass of milk or water, it's full of Vitamin B and good for digestion too.
3) LAUGHTER - Bring on the laughter and smiles, it's the most natural way to help depression, anxiety and, believe it or not, it lowers blood pressure too!
4) STRETCH - One really effective way to beat fatigue is to try a Yoga pose known as the 'Standing Stretch'. Stand in the correct posture, that is, with your toes pointed out in front of you, your knees relaxed and your feet at hip distance. Ensure the weight is balanced evenly between the ball and the heel of your foot. Interlace your thumbs and stretch your hands up above your head while keeping your arms against your ears - and stretch upwards from the lumbar area of your lower back. Keeping your breath even throughout, now slowly release the arms down in front of you. Tuck your chin into your chestbone and gently lower yourself down, vertebrae by vertebrae keeping arms hanging loosely and then just hang from the waist. This position encourages the blood flow to the head and is a real winner when you need to energise yourself. After one minute slowly bring yourself back up into a standing position, imagining as you do so that each vertebrae is stacking itself upon the next until you are eventually upright and repeat three times.
5) DIET - Check your Diet and be sure over the winter months to include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday.
6) AROMATHERAPY - Use pure Essential Oils as often as you need them. Burning Peppermint or Rosemary oils is excellent for alertness and both also aid concentration. As these oils are energising oils it is best not to use them in the evening if you are planning to have a good nights sleep.
7) THE MAGIC OF WATER - Don't forget the recommended amount is approximately two litres per day.
8) AVOID toxic people because, quiet simply, they can completely drain you of energy.
9) EXERCISE - Get plenty of exercise - There's no escaping it. The health gurus recommend that we all need to include at least 15 minutes exercise, three or four times a week.
10) LEARN TO SAY 'NO' more often. As the old saying goes 'those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter'. You'll be amazed at how much energy you can recoup and even more amazed to discover that if you say 'no' the world will keep on turning.

11) COMBAT PARTY NIGHTS - If you've had a late night on the Town try drinking at least two glasses of water before crawling up to bed, it will make the following day far more bearable.
12) BREAKFAST - We've known from a very early age that we should never miss Breakfast. No matter how tight you are for time try not to skip it. For a quick energy-inducing breakfast grab a mug of hot water with honey and lemon and a quick bowl of cereal, ideally with fibre.
13) REDUCE your intake of Caffeine. While it may give a quick boost, a lot of caffeine daily actually ends up having a negative effect on your energy level. You might even try substituting a couple of cups a day with a herbal tea, such as sage to raise spirits, peppermint to aid digestion or chamomile to enable you to unwind.
14) LEARN - Meditation and Relaxation techniques - they'll be invaluable not just today but for life.
15) MOTHER NATURE - Get out there and make the most of the short daylight hours. Overdose on fresh air. There is nothing more revitalizing than taking the time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to soak in our beautiful scenery and breathe in the fabulous scents of the season.
16) MASSAGE - It's a wonderful way of keeping the immune system in ship shape order and the body supple and healthy. So go on invest in your health and schedule a massage once a month for optimum results.
17) DIGESTION - Be kind to your digestive system. Eat slowly and avoid late night eating as much as possible.
18) STRESS - Manage your stress levels and become aware of your react to stress. Remember stress is infectious!
19) MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY - Avoid using up your lovely energy by rushing to every appointment. Aim to leave about fifteen minutes earlier, not only will you arrive in plenty of time - you'll be completely unfrazzled.
20) CONCIOUS BREATHING - Believe it or not most of us don't breathe properly. With the speed of modern day life most adults are chest breathers which means the breath doesn't make it right down into the abdomen. Become conscious of your breath each day by taking a little time to become aware of your breathing habits. The following short exercise will benefit you in many ways as well as helping to re-energise your mind, body and soul...Firstly r-e-l-a-x your entire body by taking a deep breath into your stomach. As you slowly release it imagine it traveling up along your spine, relaxing all the muscles as you go and bringing attention to the shoulders by consciously dropping them into a relaxed position. Follow your breath and think about bringing the breath down into the bottom of the lungs and really feel the tummy rising and then exhale fully and slowly. After just a few minutes resume your regular activities and feel the difference.
Now you'll be ready to welcome the coming months with open arms and revel in the wonderful delights this season has to offer leaving you invigorated and ready to enjoy this Winter. You won't know yourself - I promise!
EzineArticles