| Over two million Americans complain of being | | | | your own quiet time. All of these areas need to |
| fatigued each day, not to mention the four Million | | | | be met to maintain a whole life that is full of love, |
| who have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue | | | | happiness and energy. |
| syndrome. With the chronic tiredness often | | | | Drink more water |
| comes lack of focus, feelings of being | | | | Once you feel thirsty, you're already begun to |
| overwhelmed, flu-like symptoms, pain, memory | | | | lose a significant amount of fluid, according to |
| loss, chronic aches and pains, unrestful sleep, short | | | | sports nutritionist Kristine Clare. As your fluid level |
| temper and even depression. | | | | decrease, you'll start to notice a decline in physical |
| While many people accept their tiredness as part | | | | performance. It makes sense. A lack of water |
| and parcel of their daily lives, it needn't be the | | | | can cause a decrease in blood volume, and that |
| standard way of life. Yes, we are more | | | | can bring on fatigue. Drink eight to ten glasses of |
| over-worked and stressed out than ever, but the | | | | water a day, or more if you exercise heavily. |
| following 8 lifestyle changes can make all the | | | | Drug side effects |
| difference. | | | | Sure, you know that certain antihistamines, cold |
| Balance carbohydrates | | | | medications and cough syrups can make you |
| If you eat lunches that are high in carbohydrates | | | | drowsy. But you may not have known that the |
| but low in protein, you may find yourself feeling | | | | list of potential energy sappers features many |
| tired in the afternoon. That's because | | | | other familiar drugs that can cause drowsiness in |
| carbohydrates increase the brain's production of | | | | some people. These include certain blood - |
| calming chemical serotonin. Research suggests | | | | pressure medications and even some diuretics. If |
| that protein, by limiting serotonin production, can | | | | you feel tired or run - down, ask your doctor or |
| boost carbohydrate-induced sleepiness. You may | | | | pharmacist whether the medication you're taking |
| not need to decrease overall carbohydrates or | | | | might be the cause, and what alternatives may |
| increase your protein consumption (carbs should | | | | be available. |
| make up the bulk of a healthy diet, and most of | | | | Stress |
| us consume plenty of protein). Instead, try to | | | | The pressure of a deadline can leave you wiped |
| make sure your meals contains a balance of | | | | out for the afternoon. Fear makes you tense |
| carbohydrates and protein. This should help you | | | | your muscles, which leads to fatigue, just as if |
| avoid those mid-afternoon slumps. | | | | you were out chopping wood. Fear can also make |
| Don't snooze - till - noon weekends | | | | you hold your breath, depriving you of oxygen. |
| Some clever work drone may have once said," I'll | | | | This, too, can lead to fatigue. |
| catch up on all of my sleep the first year I'm | | | | Next time you're in the hot seat, close your eyes |
| dead." But most of us opt for Saturday mornings. | | | | and envision yourself in a tranquil setting. |
| Bad move, for we each have a biological clock | | | | Concentrate in breathing deeply and slowly. |
| that determines when we are sleepy and when | | | | Whenever possible, you schedule some |
| we are alert. When you wake up every morning | | | | discomforting event in the morning so you don't |
| at seven but sleep until noon on the weekends, | | | | spend the other day worrying about it. |
| you can upset your biological clock and end up | | | | Eyestrain |
| feeling even more fatigued. | | | | If you're having a hard time focusing, you're |
| If partly has to do with the body's release of | | | | probably twisting your body into awkward |
| cortisol, a hormone associated with alertness, | | | | position, leaning forward into the computer screen |
| which begins for seven - o'clock risers between | | | | or hunching over your desk. Vision problems also |
| three and four in the morning and peaks at about | | | | hamper concentration, which can cause fatigue. |
| eleven. When you lie in bed past this time, you | | | | Have your vision checked, and take a five - |
| suppress the level of cortisol. This can dump your | | | | minute break from your computer or paper work |
| brain into that weekend twilight zone. Catch up on | | | | every hour. Use the time to do other tasks, such |
| weekends by going to bed early, not sleeping late. | | | | as making phone calls. |
| To keep your biological clock happy, it is best to | | | | Somber colors |
| wake up every morning at about the same time. | | | | Surrounding yourself with nothing but somber |
| Compartmentalize your time | | | | colors can make you both fatigued and |
| One of the main reasons people feel overworked, | | | | depressed. Add warm colors to your environment |
| stressed out and unhappy is because they do not | | | | such as yellow, orange and especially red. These |
| prioritize their time. They often feel a greater | | | | are the colors of fire. After eons of association, |
| obligation to their job than to their family, | | | | we are programmed to respond to them. If you |
| themselves, or to friends. And this is draining | | | | want a quick cure for fatigue, focus on something |
| physically, spiritually, and emotionally and can lead | | | | red. A few items placed nearby should do the |
| to an unpleasant home life. The key to maintaining | | | | trick. But don't overdo it. Your environment can |
| harmony and prevent burnout is to set time each | | | | become too stimulating, ant that, too, can be |
| day for work, family, social occasions and for | | | | exhausting. |