How do you keep up your energy levels?

[HelloFreshed]

I’ve recently started a new role and whilst I’m enjoying it, I’m utterly shattered.
Ive worked so hard to get this position and it’s a higher level than I have previously worked, meaning more responsibilities and more money so I can’t quit.

Im struggling though (single mum and young children and trying to juggle childcare and work load). What top tips have you tried that work for you to keep your energy levels up during the day?
I would love if you could give me some supplements/ vitamins I could try please.

If you’re getting tired at around 3pm, it might be worth getting your iron levels checked in a blood test. When I was anaemic I felt like death. Also got lightheaded, palpitations, breathless and wobbly.

Otherwise, I find vitamin B complex tablets are good, plus vitamins D and C. I tried COQ10 but it did nothing for me.

I take a multivitamin as I have low iron. Without it I feel tired all the time. I also eat lots of fruit and veg and try to stay as healthy as I can and try to get enough sleep.
can you get a cleaner?
take it easy for six months on the cooking front while you settle into your role. Just batch cook and eat the same things so you’re not always cooking, or do simple healthy stuff like omelettes and jacket potatoes

@HenryCavillsWife Thank you for that point. I do actually have low iron levels already (I think even more reason as to why I’m exhausted) and have had a few blood tests recently and have been taking iron supplements every now and then although they made me feel unwell so I’ve recently been taking feroglobin. I am due to see my GP next week to get some more information and possibly some more medicine that may help.

Reading your answer is exactly how I’m feeling so I suppose I should wait until after my appointment to see if there anything more I can get to help.

I will get some vitamin D though as that’s the one I haven’t been taking. Thank you.

@BHRK
Thank you for your input. I will definitely look into getting a cleaner and some home help also.

Sleep, sleep and sleep.

Hi @HelloFreshed
I take an iron tablet. I also have Spirulina powder and Chlorella powder from Holland & Barrett, defo worth a try xx

Sleep, vitamin d, iron, fresh air and cut the caffeine.

@Summer2424 I have some Chlorella powder in my cupboard actually (tried in the past but wasn’t keen on the taste) and I will get some Spirulina too. I’ll try anything at this point. Thank you

Hi @HelloFreshed
I mix the Chlorella powder and Spirulina powder together in some water, it tastes better 😁, Tesco and Sainsbury's also do Spirulina powder Xx

@Summer2424 Thank you. I’ll grab some tomorrow.

try not to spend loads of money on supplements without changing your lifestyle.

how much sleep do you get? How good quality is it?

do you exercise? It will give you more energy. Even just a video work out at home a few times a week.

what’s your diet like? Are you eating lots of sugary things and refined carbs? They may be causing you to crash.

do you drink? Alcohol can make you feel tired the next day.

how much water are you drinking? Are you staying up too late watching tv or going to bed early.

new jobs are mentally overwhelming. Are you stretching or meditating to calm your mind so you’re not overwhelmed?

Are you laughing or doing things that make you smile like singing in the shower or dancing in the kitchen?

if you’re absolutely nailing all of the above then great! If not maybe try that before downing shots of spirulina.

because this bit of life is hard and we’re all tired and there’s no easy fix, no tablet you can take yo feel better, it’s slowly improving bits of your life over time.

congrats on the new job.

@Verymodestmouse

Thank you for your input.

In terms of sleep, I could be getting more although I think starting the new role as of last week has been intense and doing the school run (breakfast club) and then after school collection after work and then coming home to sort out the kids, I find an early night is virtually impossible.

I don’t exercise although I do walk a lot and have promised to join a dance class/ gym soon. But again it’s finding the time to go. I will see if I can do some light workouts at home when the kids go to sleep.

Diet - I don’t think I eat unhealthily but there is always room for improvement. I don’t eat a lot of meat which I don’t think is an issue, but I’m not huge on supplements either so it could be that I’m not getting enough nutrients.

Water - I need to drink more.

I usually try and practice switching off - even if it’s just a few moments silence and peace although I genuinely don’t have the energy or time at the moment. Maybe in a few weeks when I’m abit more settled into my role.

i usually enjoy dancing and singing when I get home but again recently things are such a rush that I haven’t had the energy to do so. (wake at 6 to get the kids and breakfast ready then out the door for school > work > school collection > home > dinner and bath > bed)

I will work on this over the next few weeks and see if I can get some extra help as I’m shattered and want to keep the job for security and a better financial position but I suppose it’s just the reality of feeling this way for the next year or two is crippling me.

thank you again and I will look into making some lifestyle adjustments.

Also, I don’t drink. Typically only socially - but I haven’t been out in months and don’t have the time to right now anyway.

Did ferrous fumerate/ferrous sulphate make you feel ill? I tried ferroglobin - in the form of the syrup you can get from health shops - but it wasn’t strong enough to have any effect. I needed to take proper iron pills (ferrous fumerate) to feel better, but they did work really, really quickly when I took them every day.

I don’t think you’ll feel better until your iron levels are up. Is your hair thinning out? That also happened to me. I just felt like a weak little old lady. Really emotional and vulnerable, fragile. It was so awful! And no matter how much I slept I’d still feel exhausted.

My doctor said that the chocolate-flavoured instant Horlicks has loads of iron. And you can get an iron fish that you drop into food while you’re cooking it (stuff like spag bol, soup, stews) that releases iron into the food. But only pills really made a difference.

I’m giving you such a big hug.

Spatone apple are fantastic and have resolved my low iron in two pregnancies despite cynical midwives. They don’t give me any side effects either so I really rate them. I use a well woman multivitamin with a fish oil supplement which seems to work for me x

I've found actually eating less but higher quality food and regular light exercise has helped.

I got stuck into a rut of feeling tired/wiped out. This led me to over eat and comfort eat because I couldn't be bothered to actually do anything for my own enjoyment. I'd get more tired, and then more stressed, and spiralled into lethargy.

Cutting out treats, making myself get into a light exercise routine and cooking from scratch has given me a fair bit more energy and stamina than I had before.

I had a good diet the last few weeks for the first time in years. I noticed I didn't have my afternoon slump - the main difference is that I cut out sugar. Gutting really.