Guest Post: 3 Top Tips for Dealing with Afternoon Fatigue

I remember when I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The fatigue I was experiencing blew anything I held felt before completely out of the water. I’d fall asleep, remote in hand, mid-channel surfing. Or I’d be so spent that I was too exhausted to sleep, which of course did not help the situation any.

Does any of that ring a bell with you fine people? Most chronic illness sufferers totally get where I’m coming from. Short naps, long naps, in-between naps, they were all quickly becoming my best friends.

Thankfully I have found some answers that have greatly improved my overall health, and I feel SO MUCH better. Getting diet under control, finding what supplements and natural options work the best for me, and working with my rheumatologist to find the right (and smallest) med option, have made a huge difference.

I still deal with fatigue, especially when I cross that imaginary and constantly moving line of overdoing it. But I can generally get through the day without a nap.

Now, are there days when I want a nap but just can’t manage it? Of course. I bet there are a bunch of you out there raising your hand yelling, “ME TOO!!!” I’ve learned a few tricks over the years for dealing with afternoon fatigue when you can’t crawl under the covers.

Here are three of my top fatigue-beating tips.

1) Hydration

We hear all the time about the importance of hydration. But did you know that being even slightly dehydrated is enough to cause moodiness, problems concentrating, headaches and …..wait for it….. fatigue?

Keep water available all the time and reduce the caffeine (I’m a coffee nut, so I’m not going to say eliminate it because it won’t happen, at least not in my world). I use a couple drops of citrus oil (lime is my favourite) in my water. It tastes great so it keeps me sipping all day.

When the sleepies attack, though, I get a big glass of ice water, add my oil, and drink up. It really does perk me up more than my beloved coffee does. Plus staying hydrated is good for your joints, your metabolism, brain fog, and more. The citrus oils are uplifting and act as a gentle cleanse for your system…. all of this adds together to make it super smart to buddy up to the H2O.

2) Have a Healthy Snack

What we eat really does matter (as well as when we eat). Many of the foods we eat contribute to our fatigue and there are quite a few that can help us beat it. Obviously, junk foods and fried foods will make us feel more sluggish and tired. One thing you may not be aware of is that foods high in histamines can contribute to fatigue. Conversely, foods low in histamines or that are anti-histamine can combat fatigue.

What’s a histamine and why does it matter?

Histamines are natural substances produced by the body, which are also present in many foods. They are released by the body during times of stress and allergy. They create an immune response (or an over-response in some cases). Histamines in foods can cause the same response, and when we put a load on our immune system, fatigue results. So what to eat?

Here are some low or anti- histamine choices that make a perfect mid-afternoon snack.

• Try an apple with a little almond butter.
• How about some raw broccoli and cauliflower w/garlic hummus?
• Or blend up a green smoothie

3) Grab some Essential Oils

My third go-to fatigue buster is my oil stash. Honestly, I have a “slight” obsession with oils, and we use them for nearly everything in our home. They are extraordinarily useful in this area as well as quite simple to use.

Here are a few oil tricks for getting through the day without falling asleep on your computer. There are many more; the topic is worthy of another post or two.

Peppermint

Peppermint is one of my go-to oils for many different things. It shines as an oil to boost focus and alertness, though. Simplest application? I put less than a drop in the palm of my hand, rub hands together then cup & inhale. Breathe in deeply (eyes closed) and let the peppermint open your airways, and wake up your brain. Additionally, I may roll some diluted peppermint on the back of my neck and/or add some to my diffuser. You can read more about all that peppermint can do here.

Wild Orange

Wild Orange is a wonderful partner to peppermint. Combined they are very uplifting and powerful. We diffuse Peppermint, Wild Orange, and Frankincense and call it “Study Juice” because it’s the perfect blend for students. I remember my daughter Molly at the table during grad school days with the diffuser right next to her and her pile of books, mist pointed right at her.

Basil

Basil may surprise you with its ability to help relieve mental fatigue. Inhaling basil can help restore alertness and fight the afternoon slump since it’s naturally uplifting. It’s beneficial for reducing symptoms like sluggishness, brain fog, sore, tired muscles and the poor moods that so many of us deal with on a regular basis. I make a blend it with Lime, Grapefruit, and Basil in a roller bottle to use topically. Or sometimes I’ll add the trio to my diffuser. I like options.

Have a trick or two up your sleeve.

My life has been a bit NUTS lately. Having a few tricks up my sleeve to not only get through the day but enjoy it, has been such a blessing. Next time you’re running slam into that brick wall, give one or all of these tips a try. And be sure to let me know how it goes!

Watch for more over on my Hope Health Healing blog. If you have other tips to share, please do so in the comments!

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About the author: Sally Farrington’s world was turned upside down in 2010 when she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. A busy homeschooling, volleyball coaching mom with 3 daughters, 2 son-in-laws, and 2 grands and equally busy hubby, it did not fit into her life plan very well (the understatement of the year). Since then she has been driven to learn about natural ways to be healthy, discovering essential oils along the way. Sally founded Hope Health Healing in 2015 to share what she’s learned with other chronic illness sufferers. You can follow along with her crazy life at Hope Health Healing or contact her at sally@hope-health-healing.net Follow Sally: Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest