Fatigue affects us all and can be caused by a variety of factors.  The most obvious cause of fatigue is physical, but that is not necessarily the most common type of fatigue nor is it the most challenging.  Often mental fatigue can take a greater toll on our energy more than anything else.  Juggling our various roles and responsibilities can be taxing on our willpower not just our energy.  In general, fatigue is usually a combination of factors.  For example, an argument with your boss may create stress that, in turn, causes you to binge on ice cream and chips for lunch instead of that kale salad you prepared the night before.  Not only are you mentally fatigued by the argument, but it lead to a poor dietary choice that did little to reenergize you causing physical fatigue.   All of sudden, the desire to exercise after work becomes less of a priority as we stumble through our day stressed and exhausted. 

Recognizing the cause of fatigue is the key to getting back on track.  Addressing the cause is, of course, the next step.  Here are four tips to help address fatigue throughout your day. 

Hydration – Not drinking enough water throughout the day is an incredibly common cause of fatigue and sluggishness.  Hydration is vital for our wellbeing. 

Nutrition – A poor diet is another notorious cause of a fatigue.  Not eating a healthy balance of proper nutrient-rich food can and will lead to fatigue.  Fruits and vegetables are fatigue fighters as are whole grains and sources of lean protein.  Avoid too much sugar.  As most of you already know, though sugar causes a brief, short-lived spike in energy that energy spike is followed by the classic sugar crash.

Meditation – Mental fatigue can be a lot trickier to deal with than fatigue caused by our physical bodies.  Especially in the context of working out, our minds decide to quit well before our bodies do.  Sometimes the most beneficial thing to do to fight fatigue, mental or otherwise, is to exercise, but getting past that initial hurdle can seem like an impossible task.  Meditation helps, especially if we’re having consistent difficulty quieting the noise in our heads.  Overtime, meditation provides focus and acts as a dimmer switch to all the senseless chatter and anxiety that can sometimes overwhelm us. 

Rest, Rest, Rest – Perhaps the most obvious cause of fatigue is lack of rest.  Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when people routinely get by on four to five hours of sleep due to work, kids, insomnia, etc.  Lack of sleep is a guaranteed method of turning yourself into a zombie, especially if this becomes a habit.  Follow these tips for a better night’s rest.  Also, if you just can’t get a full eight hours of sleep at night, take naps and catch up on your rest during your days off.