There Are 3 Types Of Fatigue. Here's How To Identify Yours + Heal It Naturally

To help you salute spring's arrival, we’ve put together a new wellness series on how to start the season off right. In this piece, functional medicine physician Dr. Robin Berzin explains how to maintain vibrant energy all day. And if you’re interested in really springing forward into good health, check out her full course, The Stress Solution: How To Live With Grace & Ease No Matter What Comes Your Way.

Fatigue is one of the number one things people ask for help with when they come to see us at Parsley Health.

I see it as a side effect of modern life—we're always on, always motoring through our day from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. All of our energy is going out and none is coming back in. No wonder we’re tired!

But fatigue manifests in different ways for different people. Do you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Or do you wake up easily but feel like you could face-plant on your desk around 2pm? Or do you feel pretty good all day but crash by 6pm, skipping that evening work out every time because you just don’t have the motivation or energy at the end of the day?

I hear these stories over and over again. People seem to accept that feeling really tired is a way of life.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Some of the things you’re doing every day could be sabotaging your energy.

Eat protein for breakfast. Protein in the morning—at least 20 grams of it—will increase your energy levels and keep you full so you’re not crawling the walls at 11am for a second coffee or a second breakfast. It will also boost your resting metabolic rate for the whole day.

Do a carb detox. Most of us are eating way too many refined carbs—from the obvious offenders like candy to the less obvious ones like that gluten-free bread you’re noshing on for lunch. Refined carbs turn to sugar in the body, spiking blood glucose and increasing insulin—the hormone responsible for keeping sugar balanced. Too much insulin leads to weight gain and inflammation.

Get a better night’s sleep. How you feel at 6pm really comes down to how well you’re sleeping. If an anxious, restless sleep is normal for you, or you’re getting up to pee three times a night but only a few drops come out, it probably means you’re not reaching the deep restorative sleep you need to feel rested come morning.