If you have loads of energy… how??

[FuckOffTom]

If you feel like you always have enough energy to get through your day, most days… how do you achieve it?

I am late 30s. Sleep pretty well most nights, healthy weight, drink a lot of water, take my vitamins (recent blood test shows everything normal although ferritin is borderline at just over 30 ug/L) eat relatively well etc so why I do feel so tired all the time? This isn’t a new thing, either. I can’t really remember a time when I had an abundance of energy as an adult. I could nearly always afternoon nap, even after a solid 8 hours a night of good quality sleep and some days feel down right fatigued so where am I going wrong?

Thank you for the suggestions! Very much appreciated.
I’ve done on of those hair strand test things as well - mine came back with an intolerance to a milk protein (not lactose) which was interesting as I always thought I was lactose intolerant and used to get lactose free milk but I’ve cut that out already. Barely touch any dairy now.

I do probably drink too much coffee - I have about 2/3 cups of caffeinated and about 3 decafs but I have half a sugar in each and I know caffeine blocks iron absorption so I should cut that back

I am going to tackle the most obvious thing first which is my low iron. I have ordered a 200mg supplement from Superdrug. Will ramp up my exercise a bit too. I don’t want to try everything at once because 1. How will I know which thing worked? And 2. I’m less likely to stick to it

I do feel a bit directionless in life at the moment but I think if I concentrate on my physical health first, that might give me enough of a boost to improve other areas of my life.

You are all amazing - thank you!

For anyone who is interested - I did a blood test using Thriva (it’s virtually impossible to get an appointment at my doctor!) and here is my chart. They are saying it’s ‘normal’ but as you can see, there is a large range so it won’t hurt to increase it!

I am convinced that energy is on a spectrum, just like intelligence and athletic ability and everything else. Some people naturally have more. That’s not to say we lower-energy people can’t do our best to boost it; but I will always be a person who likes a nap!

Starting with iron tablets sounds like a good plan to me, you may find that in itself shifts it, but it might take a couple of months to start feeling the difference. Personally I might not put pressure on myself to exercise more until I had a bit more energy, but I guess it depends how you find yourself feeling after exercise, energised or more tired. Fresh air is definitely always helpful!

I've always thought this too. Some of us are just more tired. DS1 is too. He is a very driven over-achieving type but in his spare time he does a hell of a lot of napping and lying in until 2pm. And he's never had much interest in high energy sports - they tire him out too quickly.

I also think there's nothing wrong with short naps. Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill both slept less at night and always took a nap during the day. Pre industrial revolution people effectively had two days with a midday sleep then a much later need time. And plenty of societies have siestas. Just keep it short, then have something to get you going again once you wake up.

I am definitely in favour of napping! Think I always will be. But it’s nice to have a short one and wake up feeling refreshed

Yes I think you are correct. I mean, I am not aiming to be able to run for miles and miles, just move around more and do the recommended amount of cardio - which I think is 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise?