I’ve written a lot here about how crucial it is to nail the wellbeing basics of getting enough sleep, hydrating, eating in a blood-sugar balancing way and avoiding excess caffeine. But what if you’re doing all that and you still feel tired and foggy?
It’s worth knowing about the following hidden productivity killers which, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can make it next to impossible to be your best at work.
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Adrenal fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is the name for a collection of symptoms caused by chronic emotional, mental or physical stress. The body begins to produce cortisol in the wrong amounts at the wrong times of day, meaning you may find yourself feeling exhausted but unable to fall asleep at night and then really struggle to wake up and get going in the morning. People with adrenal fatigue often need a lot of stimulants to get through the day, which can aggravate the condition.
If you know you’re under sustained, long term stress and recognise those symptoms, you need to take meaningful steps towards getting stress under control. Lifestyle changes such as improved sleep regularity, regular (not too gruelling) exercise and cutting down caffeine can make a big difference.
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Anemia
Anemia is another word for an iron deficiency. A simple one to diagnose and treat, but one that if left unnoticed can have a significant impact on your life. If you feel inexplicably tired, are often out of breath and/or are noticeably pale, it’s worth getting this checked out!
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Candida overgrowth
Candida is a fungus/yeast which grows in small amounts in the gut to aid with digestion. However, it can become overgrown and when this happens it can cause a number of unpleasant side effects, including fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, fungal infections, anxiety/depression and (in women) UTIs, vaginitis and thrush. Not fun! This is especially prevalent in women since it can be caused by hormonal birth control and long term antibiotics (eg used to treat acne in teenage girls).
If you are diagnosed with candida overgrowth (it can be hard to reach this diagnosis but it’s worth persisting!), the treatment is a very strict dietary and lifestyle protocol necessary to starve the fungus and repopulate the GI tract with good bacteria.
If one of these hidden conditions is killing your productivity, I hope this helps you on the journey to kicking it to the curb and getting on with what you most enjoy! For more info on how we can help you improve wellbeing and productivity, click here.
