Do you feel tired and drained most of the time?
Do you seriously struggle to get up in the morning?
If so, you may be struggling with fatigue. Juggling work and children can be seriously tough, especially if you work full time or run your own business. Thankfully there are lots of little things you can do to feel less tired on a daily basis (and most of them are totally free!).
Here are six tips to help you fight fatigue as a working parent.
1. How To Fight Fatigue As A Working Parent: Take Regular Breaks
This may seem like an impossible task if you have a busy lifestyle, but it is essential to take some time every day to relax and reset. It doesn’t need to be hours at a time; a few mini-breaks will help to restore your energy levels. This could be sitting down and listening to five minutes of a podcast with a cup of tea, or it could be an ice cream in the car before you drive home.
If you struggle with this, remind yourself that overworking yourself can cause serious health problems later down the line. So make sure to give yourself a few minutes to relax every day (even on the busiest days!).
2. Get Some Exercise
If you are tired you probably aren’t thinking about exercise at all, but in reality regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce tiredness. It doesn’t need to be an intense 30 minute workout in the gym; a slow walk around the park with your kids works just as well.
3. Drink A Lot More Water
Being dehydrated can make you feel extremely fatigued, so try to start hydrated every day. We suggest keeping a bottle of water in your bag, so there is always a refreshing (and free) drink available.
4. Make An Effort To Recognise The Positive
Focusing on the negative will increase feelings of stress, which makes it harder to sleep and rest at night. So try to make an effort to recognise the positive every day. This could be being proud of your career, or it could be having a giggle with your children. Whatever helps to boost your serotonin levels!
5. Snack Frequently
Being hungry will make you feel more fatigued, so it can be useful to keep healthy snacks in your bag so you can snack frequently. One good option is strawberries (they have high levels of vitamin C, which helps to lower cortisol while boosting your immune system).
Other good options are chicken and nuts, as they are a great source of protein and healthy fats. It is also possible to buy all of these snacks pre-made, so you don’t need to waste time cooking or preparing them.
6. Cut Out The Caffeine
Finally you may want to consider cutting out the caffeine. This may seem counter-productive, but in reality drinking a lot of caffeine can cause your energy levels to crash later in the day. Coffee is also a diuretic, which means it will dehydrate you. So consider switching to caffeine-free for a while, and it is very likely that you will notice you have more energy in the afternoon and evening.
