Conquer Daily Fatigue So You Can Be More Active!
I recently wrote a post about how you can add more activity to your lifestyle no matter how packed your schedule may be.
I talked about a bunch of little ways that you can add activity into your day when you don’t have time to exercise.
By using small moments in your day to get more steps in or do something that gets your heart rate up, you’re able to live a more active lifestyle – even if you’re always busy!
If you haven’t read it, you can find it here: How to Add More Activity to Your Day (When You Don’t Have Time)
But what if being busy is not the only issue? What if being exhausted is what’s contributing to your lack of willpower to get up and move?
Fatigue is an age-old frenemy of mine! It’s something I still struggle with on a regular basis. I mean, is there a human out there that doesn’t?
The thing is, even if you live with fatigue, you don’t have to let it run your life.
You can add activity into your day no matter what! Even if you’re tired and you’re busy. It may not always be easy, and it does take a lot of willpower, but I have a few tips to help you out!
Here are some sure-fire ways of nipping that fatigue in the bud and finding the energy to be more active!
How to Conquer Fatigue and Be More Active
1. Make it Easier
There are actually ways that you can make being active easier, no matter how exhausted you feel.
And when things are easy, we can find the energy to do them even if we are running on empty. It’s totally awesome!
Find activities you enjoy
One way to do this is by finding activities that you enjoy.
Look for things you can do in 30 seconds to a minute or two. That way it’ll be easier to fit them into small moments in the day.
Choose your favorite exercise, find a mini walk route, or bust out your best dance moves.
Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, do it! A special yoga pose or favorite stretch are also good ways to get the ball rolling.
It doesn’t have to be anything big, but you do want to try to choose activities that you thoroughly enjoy. The idea is to make the actions as pleasant as possible so that you are more inclined to do them.
Make it fun and make it something to look forward to!
I totally get it if you don’t really have anything you enjoy doing for movement. Not everyone loves being active and that’s okay.
if that is the case, pick the activities that you dislike the least. That way you won’t completely dread it when it comes time to incorporate them into your routine.
Do small things more often
Another way that you can make it easier for yourself is through repetition. It sounds boring, I know, but it will work! If you can stick to your small active movements in the day for long enough, they will start to become a habit!
That’s super exciting because it means that it will take less brain energy to do those things!
You’ll start to find that you don’t have to convince yourself to do them when the time comes, you’ll just do it and probably even feel really great about it!
It’ll also make those tough days easier as well. When you’re having a difficult day and aren’t feeling as positive, you’ll still be able to stick to your active routine because it will be something that you’re used to.
It may make you feel better, too! After all, activity has a really positive effect on your mental health.
2. Stay Motivated
Another super effective way to beat fatigue is to stay motivated and focused on your goals!
There are a few ways that you can use motivation to help you overcome exhaustion and add activity to your day.
Remind yourself of your motivation
While it sounds like a no-brainer, how often do you remind yourself of your motivation for doing something?
We have really good reasons for why we want to accomplish our goals, but we don’t always take the time to reflect on those reasons.
If you are looking to add more activity to your day, remind yourself why you want to do that.
Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself your reasons for wanting to be more active.
Write your reasons along with other motivational quotes on post-it notes and place them in areas you’ll see frequently.
Journal about your motivation or meditate about it. Keeping your reasons for wanting to be more active at the forefront of your mind will fuel your courage to stick to your activity goals.
Partner up with someone
A super great way to stay motivated is to partner up with another person who will keep you accountable!
It is sometimes best to find someone who is working on a similar goal (or any goal in general). When you’re both aiming for a common goal, it is often easier to keep one another accountable.
Find someone at work or someone you spend time with during the day.
It’s best if it’s a person who you’ll be in contact with, either virtually or face-to-face. That way you have the ability to check in on each other as the day progresses.
If you’re too busy to check in with someone constantly, you can always set regular check-ins for the end of the day or even the end of the week.
The more often you’re able to check in with your “accountabili-buddy,” the better the system will work.
But having some accountability is better than none, so do what works best for you and your schedule!
Set movement alarms
You can also give yourself a little accountability by setting movement alarms on your phone, computer, or smartwatch.
This can be especially helpful if your day-to-day is super busy.
Set multiple alarms scheduled at the best times for activity throughout your day.
For example, maybe you have a meeting at 10am, so you set an alarm immediately after to remind yourself to do something active. You could set another alarm at 12pm to remind yourself to get some extra activity in over lunch.
Movement alarms can be used in the mornings and evenings as well.
Set your alarm to go off earlier in the morning or set one for after work to remind yourself to get a workout into your day.
It doesn’t matter if it is short. Doing something is always better than doing nothing!
3. Practice Other Healthy Habits
Adopting other healthy habits will help you to add more activity into your day by actually providing you with more energy!
When your mind and body are balanced and getting what they need, you’ll find that your energy levels and personal drive will both increase!
Sleep well & start your mornings right
Sleep is so freaking important for your mental and physical health! You need enough sleep so that your body can recharge and your brain can process all of the information you absorbed from the day.
This is your golden ticket to feeling more energized!
Set a bedtime for yourself and make sure you’re getting the hours you need every night.
Having a regular sleep schedule and routine will help you get the rest you need so you can wake up every day feeling refreshed and ready to go!
Start your morning right by waking at the same time each day and adopting a healthy morning routine.
For more advice on starting a morning routine, read my post on Why You Need a Morning Routine (and How to Start One).
Eat healthy foods
Eating the right foods will give your body more sustainable energy! When we give our body the nutrients it craves, it’s able to perform at its best.
In a short time, you’ll find that you regularly have more energy because the way that you eat is sustaining your energy levels!
Take a look at your diet and see where you may be willing to make some changes.
Add in healthy alternatives that are also foods you like. Make it enjoyable to eat healthier by trying new recipes, too!
It can also be a good idea to pay attention to when you’re eating.
Try to eat at the same time throughout each day and avoid eating too late at night. This can disrupt your sleep and leave you feeling groggy the next day.
And don’t forget breakfast! It’ll jumpstart your metabolism for the day and give you some energy after being deprived of nutrients all night.
Drink more water
It’s true, staying hydrated can have a huge impact on your energy level!
Make sure that you’re drinking enough water throughout the day by always having a water bottle or glass with you.
Track your ounces and drink extra water anytime you’re being active or sweating.
Water energizes every single cell in your body and helps your brain to be focused and alert. If you stay hydrated on a regular basis, you’ll begin to notice that you naturally have more energy.
It really can be as easy as drinking more water!
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You have the ability to fight that daily fatigue and start living a more active lifestyle! Dedicate yourself to making this change for you and your well-being!
Remember, you can do anything you put your mind to.
Make it easier for yourself by finding activities you enjoy and refusing to give up. Keep yourself accountable and motivated until you reach your goals and your actions become habits.
Support an overall healthy lifestyle by getting enough sleep and supporting your body with the nutrients it craves.
And don’t beat yourself up along the way. No one is perfect. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to accomplish goals.
Practice self-kindness as you work toward increasing your energy levels and adding more activity to your lifestyle.
Some days will be better than others and that is totally okay. The important thing is that you stick with it and try your best! Reflect on the positives and stay focused on your end goal.
You are courageous and you can do it!
What are your favorite ways to beat fatigue so that you can be more active when you’re busy?
Let me know in the comments below!
