I’m getting older and feeling tired. How can I get my energy back?

In Chile they say that the “old man” has arrived when you start to feel more physically and mentally tired during the day and can no longer do your activities as you did a few years ago. But, Is it normal to feel this way? Is it really age that is weighing you down?

Trisha Pasricha, Harvard PhD explained in Washington Post that, according to a study, the most common cause of difficulty getting up in the morning adult adults it was the lack of energy well above chronic joint or back pain.

He clarified, however, that This is not normal and there are methods to get the energy boost needed to continue the day with encouragement.

“Feeling constantly exhausted is not normal, no matter what your age” began explaining Dr. Pasricha, of Harvard University. “It’s a myth that as you get older, fatigue becomes normal.”

That is why The doctor’s first recommendation is to seek professional help to find the origin of this fatigue or exhaustion. And if left untreated, it could have consequences such as increased loneliness, likelihood of disability and higher mortality rates.

As he clarified, the level of energy we have is determined by many factors, however, There are a few techniques you can try to feel less tired:

1. Add more protein to your diet. Fatigue can be closely related to the foods we eat. The doctor recommended increasing protein in the diet and avoiding ultra-processed and refined carbohydrates that leave a feeling of sluggishness and dissatisfaction.
2. Take care of your oral health. Although little known, the specialist assured that this fact is real: if you do not take care of your teeth, fatigue will increase considerably.
3. Train hard. Another factor that increases fatigue and exhaustion is the lack of muscle mass in the body. From the age of 40, people begin to lose muscle, so it is important to exercise with weights at least once or twice a week. This will give the body much more energy during the day. “It is never too early or too late to start incorporating weights into our exercise programs.”
4. Check for underlying diseases. Anemia, for example, is a disease that causes fatigue and exhaustion. Everyone, especially older people, should have a general check-up at least once a year to make sure their body is healthy.
5. Sleep well. Having a consistent sleep pattern of 7 to 8 hours per night is essential for having energy. The doctor also assured that older people should allow themselves to take naps to improve daytime fatigue.
6. Get help. Symptoms of depression include excessive tiredness, fatigue, and a desire to do nothing. If you think you may be suffering from this disorder, it is best to talk to a family member or a doctor you trust to get the help you need.
7. Review medications with a specialist. Some medications can make a person less energetic. For this reason, if fatigue is significant, it might be a good option to talk with the family doctor to discuss medications, doses and possible interactions between them.

Moreover, the Harvard specialist’s final advice is Don’t internalize that getting older means being slower and moving slowly. “We can wrongly normalize the idea that feeling constantly tired is part of this process.”