Tell me the secret to not being constantly tired

[Sunshine1235]

2 small children so I know tiredness is part of the deal but anyone else so fed up with feeling exhausted all the time? My children mostly sleep through and my husband and I alternate nights so I get a decent nights sleep (7-8 hours) most nights but I always wake up feeling exhausted and by the afternoon I’m dead on my feet. I feel like now I’ve past the baby stage I want to be doing things, rediscovering hobbies, getting fit etc but my energy is low. I even have a a short nap some days (my husband works shifts) so feel pretty pathetic that I’m still tired. I don’t think it’s extreme enough to be a medical thing although might mention is next time I see the GP but just wondering if there are any lifestyle/eating/sleeping/exercising changes I can make to help. Anyone have any secret energising tips?

Def see the GP about it, OP, it could be iron, thyroid, B12 deficiency or
a few other things.

It might be worth getting your Vitamin D levels tested. I was feeling tired and achy (achey?) and it turned out my level was very low. I got prescribed a megadose - it takes a few months to get in your system but has made the world of difference.

I’m exactly the same! No advice but I am knackered all the bloody time!

Go to the gp.

Have a look at common vit and minerals that people tend to be low on and see where in your diet they come from and if you're likely getting enough. Iron, vit D, B vit complex and magnesium all spring to mind.

Are you generally fit and well? Generally eat a good diet and stress levels ok?

Power nap in the afternoon.

Berocca cherry melts for an extra boost.

yes, see the gp.
could be deficiencies (vit b12, vit d3, iron) or thyroid issues.

Thanks everyone, maybe I’m writing off seeing the GP too soon, will do that and have a look at my vitamins too. I eat fairly healthily and well rounded I think and no real stress thankfully. I definitely could be fitter so that’s something I want to work on which might help

Also this is probably a stupid question but can GPS test for all vitamin deficiencies like they can with iron?

I do have a power nap often Soola but feel like that shouldn’t be needed as most people don’t do that do they?

Eating properly to correctly fuel your body and exercising.
They’re the things I try to do and when I slip I become sluggish, lethargic, detached from life a bit.
I know you say you eat fairly healthily but these are my main aims and they do really help me out.

I also thought that being tired wasn't a reason to go to the doctor and told DH he was ridiculous when he suggested it. I was exhausted all the time, but put it down to my small child who hated sleep and my emotionally and physically draining job that included working night shifts. I made a GP appointment about something else and also mentioned the tiredness and that DH had mentioned it could be a sign of a deficiency or something. The GP did a blood test, which showed a very low vitamin D level. I had never heard of that before but I now read about it all the time on MN(!). It might also explain the other reason I made the appointment.

Yes your GP can request blood test for iron, b12, folate, thyroid etc. If you go to him with tiredness symptoms these tests will be carried out automatically. It's surprising how a small deficiency can make such a big difference once treated.

Iron

Ask for your ferritin to be tested (iron stores). Mine were rock bottom despite normal haemoglobin etc. I was falling asleep at work....

@Sunshine1235 I second seeing the GP. Just ask them to go through the results carefully. All mine technically came back within the bounds of ‘normal’ however I was 1 count off being vitamin D and B12 deficient and borderline iron. I ended up in A&E with neurological issues thanks to the B12, which by the time it was checked again was abnormal.

Sweets helped me, maoam come in small mixer packs which I had in various places eg my handbag, desk, def in the car for a bit of energy boost when I was driving. It's a short term thing but helps get through the day xx

For me, after blood tests, it turned out to be iron tablets. I stopped falling asleep in the afternoons in no time!

While we still have nice weather get outside in the first 30 mins of waking. Being outside and getting real sun does something good for your internal body clock.

Drink water.
Go in a sauna if you can. (Three times a week is optimal but I definitely don’t have time for that!)
Bedtime routine without mobile phone- read/journal.
10 mins a day - meditate/pray/be silent and quiet
Exercise
Less processed foods and alcohol

Don't follow the advice about snacking on sweets! Sure it works - for a short time but then you get a blood sugar dip and feel tired all over again. I know from personal experience and it's a hard habit to break. Also similar caffeine.

I've suffered from this too, a couple of things worked for me:
Getting to bed by 10pm religiously
Cut down massively on alcohol (although I used to be quite a heavy drinker)
Taking feroglobin tablets (b6, b12 and ferritin which is iron)
Vit D supplements (can substitute sunbathing in the summer but the weather has been so changeable here I'm back on them already after a break over the summer)
A very short doze if you can at lunchtime (the sort of thing where you can still hear the tv) for about 10-20 mins
Drink lots of water
I still feel tired sometimes but have stopped nodding off so often!

I felt like this and had deficient foliate and vit D. I am now just normal small children tired rather than totally rinsed.

It's not what anyone wants to hear but cutting out refined sugar made a huge difference to my tiredness. If I weaken and have a biscuit now, I can feel an almost imeadiate slump, almost to the extent that I need to go for a lie down.