Tips for Battling Fatigue

Having sleep apnea can make you tired if left untreated. Or maybe you accidentally knocked your mask off during the middle of the night. Whatever the reason, here are some tips that might help get you through the day a little more easily.

Prepare the night before

When I wake up, I like to have a to-do list on my phone that helps me remember all of the things I need to get done for that day. But it helps even more if I can prepare some of it before I go to bed the night before.

For example, I love to cook, but I don't want to do it if I'm tired. So I like to precut ingredients or set meat in the fridge to defrost the night before. That way, I can just throw it all into a pan and start cooking immediately.

For cleaning, it helps me to set out all of my supplies where I can see them. It's a better motivator for me and reminds me that I'll feel better once it's done.

Take your time

You also don't have to clean everything all in 1 day. There's no law about it; the police won't burst into your home and give you a ticket. You can clean 1 room a day or 1 section of a room a day.

For example, instead of cleaning the entire kitchen, just clean the counters and sink and put dishes away. If you feel like you can do more, then go for it! For laundry, have 1 designated place for your dirty clothes. You can even have 2 hampers, 1 for colors and 1 for whites. When it gets full enough, or you run out of underwear, throw it in.

Making alarms on my phone helps too. I'll get 1 or 2 chores done, then take a break for 30 minutes. When the alarm goes off, I do another 2 things. It helps take the pressure off, and I end up getting more done that way without feeling exhausted.

Make a chore chart

Ask your roommates or loved ones to help you clean. You would think that's a no-brainer, but we can feel guilty asking for things. It's OK to ask for help. You can even make a chore chart or a list of things that need to be done and split the work.

Relax your body

Helping your body relax can help minimize your stress, therefore conserving the energy that you do have. I have found that I enjoy aromatherapy, so lighting candles or incense makes me happy. I also enjoy warmer yellow lights versus harsh LED ones. It reminds me of a fireplace in the fall.

Wearing fuzzy socks in the house is also nice, especially since my cat tracks cat litter everywhere, so I don't feel it as much. I like to wear baggy, comfy clothes when I'm home. Don't underestimate the power of a nice warm bath, either. Bath bombs are something I got into a few years ago when I had cancer. Lush is my favorite brand. They smell good, have pretty colors that turn your bath into beautiful works of art, and they make your skin feel nice and silky!

These are just some things I've found that have helped me get through harder days. Do you think these would work for you or not? Let me know in the comments!