Think back to the last time you had a truly relaxing weekend. How did you feel come Monday? “If you feel recharged after a rest, you’re probably just tired,” says fatigue specialist Dr Sue Pemberton. “With fatigue, rest doesn’t help.”
So if you still feel weary after a respectable eight hours – or are experiencing other symptoms such as muscle pains, headaches or memory loss – it may be a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome. The exact cause is unknown, but refusing to take time o work when you come down with a virus is one likely culprit. (Sound like anyone you know?)
Bump up your battery life with these vim-boosting tips:
7AM: LEVEL OUT
Take your workout down a gear. A Uni of Georgia study found 20 minutes of low- intensity exercise can reduce symptoms of exhaustion by 65%.
3PM: DRINK UP
A survey of GPs found dehydration is the key cause of low energy in 12% of cases. Try a glass of water before defaulting to coffee. It’s energy on tap.
8PM: POWER DOWN
Recreation isn’t the same as rejuvenation. To fully activate your “parasympathetic” (resting) mode, you need to reduce mental energy expenditure. Ie. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!