Lifestyle adjustments can often boost daily energy

Do you often look at some of your friends and associates and wonder where their high energy levels come from? Some days are you just too tired to get out of the bed in the morning and start the day despite adequate rest? In fact, after eight hours of rest, you feel just as tired as you did the night before.

If you have unexplained symptoms of fatigue, you may want to examine your lifestyle and make some changes.

Here are suggestions that may assist you:

Start with a thorough examination by your family physician. Discuss with him or her your diet, exercise, stress, etc. Rule out any medical explanation for chronic fatigue

• Look at your family life. If there is a relationship within the family circle that is creating tension or unhappiness - be realistic about this situation. Do you and your spouse, your children, your parents or your siblings have a healthy communication pattern?

• Are you good to yourself? Do you plan time to simply relax? When is the last time you took a vacation?

• Examine your chosen vocation. Are you happy and satisfied with your work? Are you bored? Do you enjoy being around your fellow employees? Is there harmony in the work force?

• Evaluate your spiritual status. Many people who are involved in a constant struggle about religious beliefs, moral and ethical values have developed guilt complexes and may need spiritual counseling.

• Have you lost your sense of humor? Laughing a little each day is a tension breaker, a way to wipe the slate clean and start all over again in tackling new problems. Humor often results in mental relaxation which refreshes and produces renewed determination to take a fresh look at an old annoying problem.

• Separate chronic fatigue from actual fatigue. There is a so-called “good” tired feeling which is a result of physical labor or exercise. Health care professionals urge individuals in good health to exercise enough to produce sound rest and increased energy.

Remember, healthy lifestyles, both physical and psychological, can add zest, vigor and energy to an individual’s daily routine.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2002