Are you feeling fatigued lately?

Feeling drained fatigued

It seems to me like it’s that time of year where energy levels are starting to slump, and people are starting to feel exhausted. This is not the way it needs to be though. Life doesn’t have to be about “just surviving” and getting through the days…no matter WHAT time of year it is. It is in our control to look after ourselves in a way that sustains our energy and happiness. Check out my 5 tips for doing just that:

  1. Sleep. We’ve all heard about how important sleep is right? Even during times when we’re super busy, we need to prioritise sleep to ensure we are well rested and refuelled to get the most out of our day. For tips on how to ensure you are getting the best sleep, check out our sleep vlog.
  2. Relaxation/down time. When we feel exhausted it can be easy to turn to things such as TV to help us ‘switch-off’. Sometimes this might be exactly what you need, however, often your body and mind may be in need of some relaxation. This requires intention and active participation and will leave you feeling more rejuvenated than mindless switching off. What things do you notice give you that sense of relaxation? Maybe it’s taking the dog for a walk, having a relaxing bath with your favourite oils, cooking a nutritious dinner, reading a book, or listening to music. Have a think about what it is for you and make sure you schedule these things in!
  3. Good scheduling and organisation. To help keep you out of exhaustion, good scheduling and organisation is paramount. Own your calendar or it will own you! And when it ‘owns you’ it will lead you down the path of stress and exhaustion. For tips and tricks on good scheduling and organisation refer to our organisation blog.
  4. Staying true to your values. Don’t get pulled off course. Know what your values are – what things give you a sense of meaning and purpose? How do you want to live your life? Once you identify your values then you can check if your actions are in line with them. If not, what is something you can do this week to take a step in line with your values? I find that keeping my values at the forefront of my mind helps me to turn things down and say ‘no’ (something that doesn’t come easy to me!). For more information on values click here.
  5. Self-care. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Regular top ups are required. This doesn’t need to be time intensive or expensive. Focus on quality over quantity. What makes you feel rejuvenated? A walk on the beach? A swim in the ocean? A relaxing bath without the kids? Catching up with a friend? Reading a book? These are things that need to be scheduled into your weekly calendar. Don’t wait to be burnt out and desperate. Instead, start to view these self-care activities as your non-negotiable’s, because that’s what they are. When prioritised and scheduled into your calendar they will allow you to get the most out of your day and do this for the long-term.

Take a minute and consider if any of these points are applicable to you and could assist with amping up your energy levels, and most importantly, keeping them there!

Dr Danielle McCarthy (Clinical Psychologist)