Fatigue is a natural state inscribed in life. It plays an important role in self-regulating the body, helping to maintain the balance of the organism. It is dangerous to over exploit one’s resources without allowing time for regeneration. Disturbing chronic fatigue can not only be a symptom of underlying silent illnesses but also a consequence of prolonged neglect of rest, leading to serious health problems.
“Just” tired
Fatigue is an early warning signal that what we are currently doing is losing value for the body. Fatigue prompts one to stop the activity. Continuing an activity despite fatigue is easier if the task is attractive to us and we see its value and benefit. An excess of tasks of equal importance requires maintaining activity across too many fields for too long. Fatigue can be experienced both physically and mentally, especially when a task heavily relies on cognitive resources. Fatigue is unpleasant, it is associated with discomfort, and in order to keep going there is a need to endure this feeling instantly. A healthy solution is to take a break. However, workplace pressure, for example, often force one to continue with tasks. Hence the popularity of stimulants, especially energy drinks, which are intended to help overcome energy slumps and enhance focus. In reality, overusing such short-term solutions has a detrimental effect on the functioning of internal organs, leads to hormonal changes, and can cause dangerous dehydration. Sustained stimulation pushes the body’s capacity to the extreme. The body is under stress when there is not enough time for rest. Fatigue deepens, making a person irritable, and despite feeling sleepy, they struggle with sleep disturbances. Sleepless nights are not just about feeling tired the next day. Lack of adequate quantity and quality of sleep lowers immunity and also leads to cravings for unhealthy snacks, which only provide temporary energy. This, in turn, leads to hormonal fluctuations, including an increase in the stress hormone (cortisol) levels. The spiral of fatigue continues, leading to disruptions in daily functioning. There are difficulties in both mental and physical health areas. Ignoring the body’s needs costs one’s health. If you feel tired, take a short break and do not rely on caffeine as your main source of alertness. If you respond in a substitute way to signals sent by your body, in the long run, what you now call “just” fatigue will begin to accumulate and bring severe consequences for well-being, health, and quality of life.
Chronic fatigue
Chronic fatigue can be linked to excessive strain on the body and may also indicate underlying conditions such as: anaemia, endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency), infections, insulin resistance, vitamin deficiencies, or obesity. Persistent disregard for fatigue and attempting to function at high speeds, can lead to the chronicisation of fatigue. Persistent exhaustion unrelated to a specific task may indicate psychological issues such as depression. Depression is characterised by a sense of fatigue that can occur not only during activities but even before undertaking them. You can read more about fatigue in depression here. When a profound sense of fatigue persists for more than 6 months without being related to exertion or illnesses, it is possible that we are dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – a threatening disease of unknown ethology. Persistent fatigue is a very common complaint in doctor’s offices. To feel better and function more efficiently, a visit to the doctor and diagnostic tests may be necessary. Regardless of whether fatigue is related to an illness or not (yet), we can take remedial steps by making even small changes to our lifestyle. Remember that you can take care of yourself by:
- regular relaxation breaks during the day,
- health checks with the doctor,
- hydration,
- a varied diet,
- sleep hygiene,
- physical activity,
- time for small pleasures,
- stress management,
- limiting stimulants (chronic fatigue will not be overcome by caffeine),
- exercising restraint in taking on tasks.
The need for regeneration
There is no better way to balance fatigue than regular rest. Make changes in your daily routine and rest. Relaxation improves not only efficiency and productivity, but also mood. Rest allows you to stay healthy and functional, relieving physical, mental, and emotional stress. There are healthy and safe ways to refresh your energy. You can try taking short breaks in your current activities, during which you move around, hydrate yourself, or consciously regulate your breathing. It is also important to change the area of activity and environment, which can be burdensome and may exacerbate fatigue, for example, through noise. The relaxation VR goggles TierOne GO support effective relaxation. A 10-minute relaxation in virtual environment helps balance fatigue and stress. Staying in a friendly virtual natural environment restores harmony and refreshes mental energy. The mind needs to explore its surroundings to rest, and the virtual sphere is an excellent place to detach from mentally demanding tasks. Virtual relaxation brings improvement in well-being in a short time. It helps you to catch a breath during busy day through breathing, meditation, and mindfulness sessions. Stop and listen to your body, which enables you to do so much. Make prioritising your health and well-being a high priority. Manage your fatigue with VR TierOne GO!
