5 Steps To Exiting Your ‘Sluggish’ Era

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour may have departed Aussie shores back in February, but there’s one era many of us can’t seem to exit, and that’s our ‘sluggish’ one. If life’s starting to feel like one big fight against fatigue, you might just be in yours. Difficulty concentrating? Lack of motivation? Wishing the day would just end already? Yep, those are all signs of sluggishness.

But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck in your sluggish era forever – while we recommend always consulting your doctor to ensure that your fatigue isn’t an effect of an underlying medical condition, there are still things you can do in your day-to-day life that’ll help you refill your energy tank for longer.

So without further ado (because you may be feeling your eyelids getting heavy even reading this), here are five steps to exiting your sluggish era…

Step 1: Build a wind-down routine

A lack of energy often stems from inadequate sleep, so that’s where we’ll start. To enhance your body’s ability to settle into the deepest sleep possible, try building a wind-down routine before bed that sends signals to your brain that it’s time to rest. Limiting screen time in the hour before bed is a great way to begin – instead you could enjoy a warm shower or bath (to soothe the stresses of the day), harness the powers of an essential oil diffuser (dispersing a sleep-aiding, relaxing scent like lavender) and settle in for an early night with a good book (preferably with a plot that won’t demand you keep turning the pages past your preferred bedtime).

Step 2: Choose your beverages wisely

Never underestimate the power of hydration, people. But of course, there are some beverages that will aid your energy levels, and some that could further diminish them. Water is always going to be your best beverage ally – dehydration is a common factor when it comes to feeling tired, so be sure to work out the right daily amount of water for your body and commit to consuming it. On the other hand, drinks like caffeine and alcohol are definitely less helpful in the fight against fatigue. Caffeine can often come with a crash once the effects wear off (or on the flipside, leave you energised at the wrong time and thus unable to sleep well at night). And alcohol? It can also affect your quality of sleep, leaving you far less rested (and far more dehydrated) the next day.

Step 3: Move your body more

It may sound ironic – you’re struggling with energy and we’re advising moving more? But yes, physical activity can actually boost energy levels, while a more sedentary lifestyle is known to cause increased fatigue. On top of the benefits you’ll feel throughout the day, exercise also helps you to sleep better at night, allowing you to feel well rested and (blessedly) more energetic when you wake up the next morning. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly strenuous – a relaxing yoga session or a nice walk will do the trick. The goal is simply to get your body moving.

Step 4: Eat more often (and more intentionally)

Considering food is what supplies our bodies with energy, it makes sense that it’s a major player when it comes to fatigue (and trying to avoid it). For energy uplift, look to start your day with a nutritious breakfast, ideally containing proteins, slowly-digested carbohydrates and healthy fats (along with some fruits and vegetables, if possible). You don’t need to commit to a big meal in the morning, though. In general, you could try eating six smaller meals more frequently throughout the day rather than three larger ones – smaller portions (consumed more often) will help to keep your blood sugar levels steady all day, and leave you free from the post-large meal ‘I need a nap’ trap. Seeking foods rich in vitamins and minerals that fuel the body is important, too – iron, for example, is a crucial one for energy levels. Try to incorporate iron-rich foods such as red meat, legumes, and vegetables, like spinach and sweet potatoes, into your daily diet to up your iron intake.

Step 5: Add a vitamin supplement to your routine

If you’re not getting an adequate amount of iron from your diet (or want to make sure you’re supplying your body as much as possible), you could try adding a supplement to your routine to up your vitamin intake. Iron serves a significant function in the body, as it’s an important mineral our bodies need to produce hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. It’s these blood cells that carry oxygen through the body, so it’s certainly something you want to ensure your body has an adequate amount of. Without this, the body may experience higher levels of fatigue and lower energy levels.

If you feel like you’re dealing with these kinds of symptoms, it could be worth discussing with your doctor whether an iron ingestible could be right for you. For example, iron levels could be supported by Ferro Lipo-Sachets Strawberry flavour ($39.99 at Chemist Warehouse). The iron support within them travels through the body using something called ‘liposomal technology’ – this basically means it passes by the gastric barrier (in a protective shell) to where it is needed, which helps it to be better absorbed and avoid irritating the digestive tract along the way*. Because nobody (and we mean nobody) likes an irritated digestive tract!

Now you have your steps – here’s hoping you’ll be feeling more energised than ever and exiting your sluggish era for good very soon.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

* Malhotra J, et al. World J Anemia 2017;1(4):1-6.