If I was to ask you how you feel right now, I can almost guarantee that within your answer might be the word “tired”. It is a challenging time of year; it seems a long time since summer holidays and still some way to go until a Christmas break. We have likely spent a lot of our mental and emotional energy, and it is easy to feel as though our reserve is depleted. We are probably starting to feel extra pressure and demand from work as people start trying to complete projects and life admin tasks before Christmas.
If you are feeling tired, you are not alone. Yet we still have to find a way to get motivated, to find the energy, and to get through to that next period of rest.
To do this, we first of all need to be clear about what we mean when we say tired. In my experience as a doctor and a human being, I often find people use that word to mean tired mentally and emotionally, and sometimes they say it because they are asking for help or support, or for someone to really listen.
Sometimes the response “tired” can be given because we are feeling low in mood, because we are struggling with life or because we are overwhelmed. The word can mean many things, and it is important not only to realise what we mean when we say it for ourselves, but also what it might mean if someone tries to open up to us.
So where is this tiredness coming from?
Physical
There are many physical reasons why we might feel tired – a low blood count causing anaemia, your thyroid hormone being low, during or after a viral infection, to name but a few. It is important if your tiredness is having an impact on what you can do or is persistent to see your doctor to make sure there is no organic cause for this.
Consider also your quantity and quality of sleep and why you are ignoring it. Think about your work schedule – is your work/life balance out of equilibrium? Are you doing lots of physical exertion in your job? Or lots of night shifts? Have you been working extra hours? Think about how much you rest your body when you are not working – are you constantly on the go, doing jobs all the time, even on weekends? Are you doing too much or too little exercise – both can cause us to feel physically tired. Tackle each in turn.
Mental
Low mood and depression can cause us to feel mentally tired, as can any anxiety-based condition, so ask yourself what your mood has been like lately and whether you have any other signs or symptoms. If so, seek professional support. Is your brain constantly busy and do you find it tricky to switch off? Are you prone to worrying about things that are not in your control or trying to fix things you can’t? Find ways such as meditation, mindfulness, problem-solving or an activity that engages your senses such as exercise, music, baking or writing a journal that takes you away from your mind.
Creativity is also a great way to boost your mental energy. If there are problems in your life you cannot fix no matter how much time or energy you put into them, accept it and try to let them go.
Emotional
Have you had lots of challenging life events recently? Have you had to deal with a lot of change, uncertainty or stress? Sit and reflect on what you have been through over the past year or so. Look at the list and give yourself a moment to process it, to congratulate yourself on what you have managed, and to realise that your emotional reserve may well be depleted. Have you had enough joy, fun, happiness, comfort and emotional safety? How can you find more of this in the days and weeks ahead.
Sometimes we can feel tired of life itself if things have been challenging. We need to be reminded of the best things, like love, kindness, joy, simplicity, connection and peace. We can also sometimes feel tired of ourselves – maybe we are not making the changes we know we should in our lives because of fear; maybe we are overly self-critical; maybe we are tired of allowing others to encroach on our boundaries and drain our energy. Step back from people, things and events that are making you feel emotionally exhausted.
Being clear about what you mean by feeling tired, and what the causes are, can help us solve these issues, move forward and feel better for it.