When we’re tired, working on deadline or under emotional stress, we can push through the tiredness and get the job done. But when pushing through becomes a habit, we end up pushing through tiredness to the point of fatigue. The whole body/mind system is exhausted and when we ignore the exhaustion, we risk long-term health effects.
Do you try to push through fatigue only to find yourself feeling more fatigued? Try these 4 easy steps to feeling less fatigue now.
- Quit fighting – even if you win the fight, you lose the battle. Fighting creates more stress and exhaustion.
- Welcome the fatigue – feel it. That may mean sleeping more, resting more, or just slowing down your daily activities. When you feel the fatigue now, you will not linger in it as long.
- Close your eyes whenever you can. This is the simplest way of taking cat-naps! Enjoy the sensation of your closed eyelids, the darkness, the lack of stimulation.
- Give yourself permission to relax. Meditation and simple body awareness are proven techniques to establish the relaxation response.
While these steps are easy, if our “push” habit is strong, then it may be very difficult to learn how to relax. A teacher, guide, or mentor can help you break the “push” habit and remember how to relax. When you relax you will have the energy you’ve been wanting, ready to return to work and relationships rejuvenated and with pleasure.