I don't know about you, but I have often found myself sleeping in until the last possible second, before dragging myself out of bed, often wondering 'why am I always so tired?'

Acting like a serious, responsible adult can be so exhausting with all the routines, dripping with sameness, it can get tedious. You are probably aware of some of the obvious energy vampires like toddlers, teenagers, let's face it - children in general, even finding a parking spot, but, energy isn't a constant in our lives, it ebbs and flows according to daily, monthly and even seasonal rhythms that are highly individual.

If you feel like you are suffering a personal energy shortage, you are not alone, according to a new study by the University of Sydney called "Why are we so tired?", a culture of "sleep is a waste of time" is having enormous consequences for Australians.

We are in the midst of a fatigue "epidemic" and it's negatively affecting our productivity and the national economy.', says EnergX founder Sean Hall, a co-author of the study.[1]

Each year, around 1.5 million Australians see their doctor about fatigue, but fatigue is a symptom, not a condition. For many Australians, fatigue is caused by a combination of lifestyle, social, psychological and general wellbeing issues rather than an underlying medical condition.

Common Causes of Fatigue:
* Lack of Sleep Ð This may be an obvious answer, but 1 in 10 Australians continue to get below the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night (averaging 5.5hours a night).
* Poor Diet Ð Ensuring that you get all the nutrients you need, it's vital to choose a mix of food from the five food groups
* Lack of Water Intake - Water mixed with coffee or tea does not make up the 2-3 litres/day we should be consuming for normal bodily functions.
* Excessive Stress Ð Can cause physical and emotional exhaustion, because stress makes your body generate more of the Ôfight or flight' chemicals.
* Medical Conditions Ð There are a wide variety of medical conditions that can cause fatigue, it's best to consult with your doctor.

So, what should you do about it?
Consult with your doctor. Before you can reduce your fatigue, you first need to understand what the underlying reasons for your fatigue are.

Whether it is lack of sleep, a poor diet, excessive stress of a medical condition, a doctor can ask questions which will help work out why you are experiencing fatigue and offer some suggestions on how to find relief.

If necessary, your doctor might suggest certain medical tests if there is a reasonable chance the cause of your fatigue may be an undiagnosed medical issue (for example, anaemia or thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiency). [2]

Fortunately, for most people fatigue will get better over time on its own or with some simple and practical lifestyle changes.

Tips to reduce fatigue [3]:
* The most obvious one - get more quality sleep. Have nice clean sheets. It's always lovely to tuck into bed when you have clean sheets. Have a comfortable mattress and pillows.
* Stick to a sleep schedule. Don't take naps
* Take short breaks at work
* Try to eat a healthy and drink lots of water.
* Exercise and not just a short walk - get your heart rate up. You will feel great for doing this on a regular basis.
* Remember to see a healthcare professional if you have been suffering fatigue for a long period of time.

Source:
https://www.energx.com.au/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320800.php
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips