Income & Fatigue

tonystratham

Hello

I am putting in extra effort at work and i am working from home due to the virus situation. I note late in the afternoon i really have bad fatigue at like 3pm and have to have a small nap for 10 minutes. This happens after eating my evening meal at 7pm also. Does anyone please know any vitamin drinks, good teas or snacks to have to try boost my energy. I am a tall and thin person, my doctor has advised to eat more. However i am not sure what snacks / drinks might help? Has anyone any other tips for fighting fatigue, especially if it comes on really bad rather than take a nap? Thanks for reading everyone.

[Deleted User]

Nutrition is a big subject - huge !
To answer your specifics though, eating nutritious foods will help more than snacks if those snacks are sugary; sugary will give you a quick lift and then drop you back down quickly, sustained energy is what you're trying to achieve, it gives a long controlled release.
Slow release energy foods are always better for fuelling bodies so choose starchy carbohydrate over high sugar foods.

Start your day with breakfast (oat/rice based cereal, maybe eggs on toast) because skipping it will mean your body is running on empty from the moment you get up and start expending energy. 
Mid morning snack of cereal bar, banana, etc.
Lunch, pasta or rice dish.
Mid afternoon snack.
Evening meal, try to eat this before 7pm and your body doesn't have that long gap between your mid afternoon snack and next meal.
Protein, carbohydrate, vegetable.

As I said straight away, nutrition is a big subject and probably best you do some searches of good books on the topic; something to consider ahead of all this though is sleep  - while your body and mind are doing the heavy work through your day, your sleep must be quality to be able to rejuvenate you; poor sleep poor performance, both mentally and physically; never underestimate the healing power of sleep.

elsien

If you weren't nodding off at work, what's the difference now?
Are you taking having the necessary breaks, drinking enough and taking time away from your computer to go for a walk or do a bit of exercise and clear your head.
I suspect the 3am slump is as much to do with  sitting too long and lack of social interaction as it is nutrition.  I would normally be out and about but am working from home and if I don't have breaks and take myself outside for half an hour at lunchtime  by 4 I'm knackered and I've had enough. Even (or maybe because) I'm less physically active. And I keep forgetting to stop for a drink.  

zugzwang

I think it's difficult for GPs to diagnose just now, with social distancing and over the phone appointments. Or did you get a blood test ?. It could be you just need to get some fresh air during the day, or it could be diabetes which is linked to napping or something else .

If you're still worried, I suggest you phone your GP again or NHS24. 

comeandgo

Why is it bad to take a 10 minute nap?  Many people do it.  If you were sleeping for a couple of hours then that may cause issues. I find a ten minute walk works well though this may not be possible now.  How about a slightly warm shower, I would say cold but that is just cruel.