Strategies for Beating Fatigue
After Daylight Saving Time, it gets dark at 5 p.m. And the rush of the holidays tends to have most of us racing around from morning until night. If you’re a little fatigued this time of year, it’s no surprise. During the darkest, coldest days
of the year, we are busier than ever, which can lead to tiredness, frustration or depression. If you find yourself fatigued, consider the following strategies for re-energizing your days and nights: –Soak up some light. If you are a night owl and tend to sleep in, you can miss out on precious daylight this time of year. Sunlight helps reset your clock, clear your head, and give you a welcome dose of vitamin D and energy. Try to schedule a 10-minute walk over lunch or spend more time outside when the weather permits on the weekends. — Move. Even if it seems somewhat counterintuitive, exercise creates feel-good endorphins, which can boost your mood and energy level. You don’t have to run a marathon – incorporate short exercise breaks, try a yoga class or take a walk to look at fall leaves with your kids.
–Eat and drink mindfully. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a cookie at the office or a glass of wine at your next holiday party. It simply means paying more attention to what you eat and drink and how it makes you feel. If oatmeal gives you energy in the morning while a muffin makes you sluggish, make that choice more often. If a cup of tea in the afternoon gives you a little boost, buy some of your favorite flavors and keep a stash on hand. Enjoy fall treatssuch as apples, squash, soups and mulled cider to eat well and with the season. –Organize. Lack of organization can create stress, which can lead to even more fatigue. Take 10 minutes every night to prepare for the next day, so you’re ready to meet it when the sun rises. –Learn to say no. It’s easy to say yes to over-commitment and find yourself frenzied. Focus on the activities and events you love the most and say no nicely to those that drag you down rather than build you up. –And rest. If you’re not sleeping enough at night, can you go to bed 30 minutes earlier or schedule an occasional nap? A few minutes of meditation –just noticing your breath and trying to let the rest go – can also help you recharge.
