The Influence Of Your Biological Rhythms: Chronic Fatigue
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
The influence of your biological rhythms
If you're like many people, you sometimes feel sleepy or drowsy even when you don't exert yourself. Perhaps you feel like taking a nap in the middle of the day, or you have trouble concentrating when you watch a movie at night. Maybe just half an hour of housework leaves you feeling spent. If you haven't used up your physical energy, why do you feel sleepy?
Before you can find out why you feel sleepy, you first need to determine whether you have abnormally low energy or are just expecting too much of yourself. No one feels alert and energetic all day. Most people have times of day when they are at their best and other times when their energy slumps and alertness fades. Being constantly busy is sometimes perceived as an indicator of a person's self-worth, so it's tempting to say "yes" to every work project, dinner party, and volunteer assignment that comes your way. But no matter how rewarding these activities may be, they also demand a lot of energy. Understanding your body's natural daily rhythms will help you match your activities with the times of day when you're feeling most alert or energetic.
| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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