How Exercise Can Help You Combat Tiredness

Get Out of Your Funk

Exercise is a double edged sword; it can make your muscles physically tired, but it actually gives you more energy. Exercise gets your circulation going by increasing your blood flow this means that your heart is pumping oxygen to your brain, muscles, and tissues faster. It also promotes the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and natural feel-good hormones (endorphins) that will make you feel better and more energized. Even moderate exercise can improve your energy levels!

So, when you feel too tired, the solution can be to actually exercise:

· Begin with low to moderate intensity exercise. Try walking, biking or yoga. Over time, gradually build up the pace and length into more moderate or high-intensity exercise, that way you won’t exhaust yourself and you’ll be less likely to incur and injury.

· Exercising with a friend can motivate you to keep your commitment to exercise even when you are tired.

· Start the day with exercise, it may help to work out first thing in the morning before your day gets away from you. Can you wake up 30 minutes earlier or go into work 30 minutes later? You’ll feel pumped up afterward, and less fatigued during the day.

· Not a morning person? No problem, experiment with exercising at different times of the day to find what suits you best. Extend your lunch break in the middle of the day or exercise after work, it might sound exhausting, but it will actually calm and invigorate you.

· Exercise will help you to sleep more soundly at night. Exercise, cannot make up for either not enough or poor quality sleep, so assess your sleeping habits. Sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders can disrupt your sleep, leaving you tired. Talk with your doctor if you feel your sleep is compromised.

· Drink plenty of water.

· Show your mind who is boss. You won’t always have bundles of energy when you go to exercise but that doesn’t matter. The only thing that counts is doing it.

If you’re not accustomed to working out, you will initially find it tiring. Things will get better though. Regular physical activity promotes energy and will, over time, result in you having far more energy than you did when you were inactive.

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