Biohacks to combat fatigue

One of the most common concerns my patients request my help with, is fatigue. General tiredness is a common struggle for many people.

At Wellness MD, we help our members to find the root cause of their tiredness or fatigue and work with them towards their individual goals to have enough energy to go for a bike ride with their families, run on the beach or go sledding with their kids.

Our energy levels naturally wax and wane with our bio-rhythms. Depending on some genetic factors, lifestyle habits and hormones levels, many people experience decreased energy levels at certain times of the day. For women, especially their energy level fluctuates during their cycle.

With the added chronic stress of this pandemic, many people are experiencing mental fatigue worsening physical fatigue.

Chronic fatigue is multifactorial. However, when we recognize this and address the cause, we can turn it around. In our bodies, we have a system to manage stress. Our stress management system is called our pituitary-adrenal axis (or HPA axis). When we experience chronic stress, our bodies need to deal with a high amount of stress hormones, such as cortisol. Continuous secretion of stress hormones causes us to feel tired and wired and generally exhausted even before starting our day.

The good news is: there are many simple ways you can prevent energy dips and avoid mental fatigue.

Fatigue is an extensive topic. However, I have five quick and easy tips/bio hacks that will boost your energy levels right away:

1: Drink water

Many of us don’t drink enough water regularly. Mild dehydration can cause physical fatigue, mental fatigue, brain fog and headaches. Dehydration can even lower your mood.

“70% body is water.” Our cells, organs, and tissues require water to function optimally.

You can implement a couple of hacks to make sure you drink more water.

Start by having a glass of water next to your bed. First thing in the morning, when you wake up, have a glass of water before you get out of bed. You can make things more exciting by adding raspberries, blackberries, cucumbers or a splash of lemon juice.

Some of my clients use a water-reminding app on their phones.

2: Eat energy-supplying foods

If you need an extra coffee to get you through the afternoon and still all you fantasize about is an afternoon nap, you will benefit from adjusting your breakfast.