End of the year fatigue: Prepare for “Silly season”!

Whether you are the CEO of a company or your household (or both!), we live life to the fullest and try to fit in as much as possible during the year. Although Lock Down has limited our activities, the stress that it brought exhausted us to the extend that most people (including myself) are running on fumes at the moment.

In our practice, one of the most common complaints from patients is tiredness and this escalates during November. A lack of energy and motivation, as well as physical or mental exhaustion have a huge negative impact on work and relationships.

Your GP is there to determine and treat the cause and set your mind at ease. Taking a sleep history, doing a full examination and sending you for urine or blood tests, are all part of the work-up for chronic tiredness.

Common causes are:

· Psychological and psychosocial – stress, anxiety, and depression and medication for it( review all your current medication with every check-up)

· Physical – anaemia, diabetes, glandular fever, and cancer, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, iron deficiency, constipation, heart failure, thyroid disease

· Physiological – pregnancy, breast-feeding, inadequate sleep, and excessive exercise.

Prepare for the silly season and avoid fatigue by

· Not staying up too late

· Not having too much caffeine, alcohol and nicotine

· Not eating too much junk food.

· Drinking enough water

· Set realistic expectations for your work load and schedule

· Take time to relax

· Resolve relationship issues

· Visit your doctor, exclude possible causes and stop worrying!