Overcome Fatigue Through Movement

Society tells us that we always need to be on the move. Between work schedules, being the family taxi, medical concerns, and daily obligations, there is no time left. This often leads to both mental and physical exhaustion. Spreading yourself thin day after day takes a toll on the body. This sustained level of stress often leads to chronic pain, decreased ability to heal, anxiety, and fatigue.

This overwhelming level of fatigue can come from many sources. Therefore, it is super important to have an evaluation performed by a health care provider trained in functional medicine. Underlying root causes of fatigue can be from iron deficiency, blood sugar instability, adrenal hormone imbalances, thyroid hormone imbalances, and a variety of other imbalances. Therefore, it is important to have a full evaluation.

One thing that can often dramatically benefit fatigue in many individuals is movement. Notice I didn’t say the evil “e” word – exercise. Just simple movement is key. Movement stimulates blood flow, your body’s nutrient highway, throughout the body. This is important when it comes to recovery from gym workouts, a long hot day outside, an injury, or even just the soreness of every day life.         

Movement doesn’t have to be crazy. You don’t have to pick up CrossFit or train to be the next American Ninja Warrior. It doesn’t need to be 3 hours of activity. It simply means to move – go for a walk during lunch, take frequent movement breaks at the office, find a nice bike trail, take up yoga, or go dancing with friends. Find something that you truly enjoy, and incorporate that into your daily routine. Get up every 50 minutes at the office, stretch, walk around for a bit – not only will this help fatigue, but will also help with focus at the office.

Movement also decreases inflammation throughout the body, which can be a key factor in many health conditions. Additionally, exercising and moving our muscles directly stimulates natural pain killers and anti-inflammatories. This is one of the other reasons there is often mood elevation that accompanies exercise.

Qi Gong is a great option to combat fatigue. It incorporates movement, mindfulness, and deep breathing. Qi Gong takes place in a calm and peaceful environment and focuses on slow-flowing movements and deep rhythmic breathing resulting in a moving meditation. This focus on breathing and movement create an environment optimal for stress reduction, physical, and mental healing.

Therefore, find that option for movement that fuels you. If your schedule is crazy, take that small 1-2 minute break every 50 minutes – move: go for a walk, squats, toe raises, take the stairs. If you have more time, find that activity that brings you joy. Bring the movement – decrease the stress and fatigue.