Fatigue at work can affect your ability to think clearly, perform efficiently, feel mentally and physically stable and increases the likelihood of health problems, accidents, injuries and sometimes death.
People who are fatigued often don’t recognize how fatigued they really are and continue to push their limits rather than resolving the problem.
There are many reasons people are tired at work: Sleep issues, stress, diet, health problems, medications, depression, and too many responsibilities to name a few.
SLEEP: Inadequate sleep diminishes our body’s ability to recharge, repair and recover physically and mentally. Chronic stress wears the adrenal glands (energy glands) down so you will feel fatigued in the morning and then they kick in at night causing difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep or restless sleep.
Taking a natural sleep aid can help without being addictive. Happy Sleeper (Natural Balance) or Herbal Zzzz’s ( North American Herb and Spice), or +CBD Sleep Gummies (CV Sciences) are popular. Melatonin works for some people and for others it doesn’t do a thing. Don’t stay up late, turn off the electronics (TV, computer, Pads, Phones) and go to bed at a regular time. Give your brain and body a break & unplug!
ADRENAL GLANDS: For many people to increase energy they drink caffeinated beverages like coffee or energy drinks like Red Bull to get the adrenals going. The problem with that is over time the caffeine further overworks the adrenals increasing adrenal fatigue. Also the caffeine stays in your system till evening making sleep difficult. Get energy naturally. Tone down the caffeine and try taking a vitamin B-50 complex and B12 1000 mcg (sublingual/ under tongue) morning and afternoon. Also AdrenaSense (Natural Factors) & Selenium Synergy (Jarrow Formulas) can be helpful. These are adrenal & brain pick-me ups.
Get up and move around for a little bit. Get the circulation going. Do some stretches every now & then and meditate for 5 minutes to refresh yourself.
ALCOHOL & THE BRAIN: According to experts a glass of wine or other alcohol beverages at night may help you initially feel sleepier, but alcohol actually disrupts sleep and leads to a poorer night’s rest. This is because it interferes with sleep homeostasis, your internal timer in the brain, which regulates sleeping and waking. Timing your beverage is important. If you are relaxing with some wine or other alcohol don’t wait till later in the evening, have a drink with your evening meal. Later try a relaxing tea such as Chamomile or Bedtime tea (Yogi).
Do a CLEANSE to purge your body and brain of holiday excess toxins: Get your diet back to healthy simple foods. Keep foods light; steamed vegetables, eat more gluten free grains, decrease meat proteins. Add in a daily Green Drink such as Kyogreen Harvest Blend (Kyolic) it’s pure nutrition, energy food, gentle detoxifier and great for your skin. Eliminate dairy and white flour carbohydrates and don’t skip meals, just make them smaller or substitute 1 meal with a vegetable non-dairy (non-whey) non-soy protein drink. You might consider drinking a Detox tea (Triple leaf ) in the morning to help rid the sluggish bloating feeling from toxin overload. Then if you want to increase the detox intensity, get a 10 day cleanse kit like Whole Body Cleanse (Nature’s Way) and follow the directions.
EATING & FATIGUE: Sleepiness following eating has a complex set of causes.
Eating can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for preparing the body for rest, as well as stimulating the digestive system. Also during digestion, your body breaks down the nutrients in food. This causes a rise in blood sugar that triggers your pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin increases the amount of serotonin and melatonin that flood the brain, two chemicals associated with drowsiness.
High sugar carbohydrates spike your blood sugars quickly, resulting in a large release of insulin that provokes a subsequent blood sugar crash, which depletes energy levels.Overeating, heavy meals or having a sluggish digestive tract puts stress on your system and can really drain your energy.
Balance your blood sugars! Always have a small amount of protein with each meal. Also have a planned protein & whole grain carbohydrate or tart fruit snack between meals. Don’t wait until you feel tired, (that’s too late) you need to get ahead of the blood sugar plummet. Take a supplement to help your body utilize sugars better for muscle energy, such as Cinnacare (Futurebiotics) or Kyolic Blood Sugar Balance with each meal.
If you have slow digestion (food just sit in your stomach) take 1 or 2 digestive enzymes such as Eat EZ Ultra (Dynamic Enzymes) with each meal. Some people find apple cider vinegar in some water helps too!
Daily fatigue at work is not good. Determining why you are fatigued at work is crucial to improved production, attitude, safety and overall better health.
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Jane Jansen Holistic Practitioner
Tree of Life Wellness Center Seekonk MA 508-336-4242
Host of Holistic Healthline Radio