Having an Incredible Sense of Fatigue

[Bonkers]

Hey guys,
Thought this would fit best here with steves past two blogs about sickness and being less drowsy. I've been having a problem and was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar or knows what im talking about.

What happens is oftentimes when I start doing something important (working on writing my book, articles, website development etc) even if I really want to do it I often feel this incredible sense of fatigue. Like I just can't keep working and must sleep right there and then. It's incredibly annoying ad there are a few things I would really like to do but it seems my body is holding me back somehow and stopping me from doing them....

Actually think I just answered my own question that I really do need to explore and figure out where these motions of fatigue are coming from.

Has anyone had anything similar and solved it, or is currently experiencing similar problems?

[cdn2wheeler]

Not sure where you're located, but it's common for people who live in northerly latitudes to feel this to some degree during this time of year. Shorter days, longer night and all the rest can lead to fatigue and even depression in some. It's called Seasonal Affective Disorder and is pretty common. Fortunately it's easily remedied: use full spectrum fluorescent lamps.

Originally Posted by Canadian Mental Health Association

Many people with SAD respond well to exposure to bright, artificial light. "Light therapy," involves sitting beside a special fluorescent light box for several minutes day. A health care professional should be consulted before beginning light therapy.

[bdp]

My wife had a similar problem, turned out she was anemic. Additional iron made a huge difference in her energy level.

[Ilya]

Originally Posted by Bonkers

What happens is oftentimes when I start doing something important (working on writing my book, articles, website development etc) even if I really want to do it I often feel this incredible sense of fatigue. Like I just can't keep working and must sleep right there and then.

This is a very familiar symptom for me.

It's incredibly annoying ad there are a few things I would really like to do but it seems my body is holding me back somehow and stopping me from doing them....

And you may think that this is something about your subconscious sabotaging your success. But you would be most likely wrong.
You write that you experience this fatigue when starting to do stuff. And from your description I recon that it is mostly mental activities you are starting. And by starting, I guess you mean, that you don't usually do this kind of things but want to and make first but irregular attempts.

Congratulations! Welcome to the world of learning.
We somehow grow to trust that our brain is something that can work 24\7 and never get tired, unlike, say, muscles. Our mind may be like this, but it is limited by the capabilities of the brain.

The brain however is the organ, made of flesh and relying on approximately the same chemistry than other organs. And like other organs it gets tired when put to good use. When you overload a muscle, it can't move anymore, ask any bodybuilder. When you overload the brain, it can't go on also.
Muscles become sore. Brains become sleepy.

It can be an embarrassing discovery that one's brain is so unaccustomed to mental effort that it shuts down so quickly. Don't fall onto such thinking. Virtually any unusual mental activity will result in such fatigue. The good news is that if you keep going, it will become easier by the day. The number of neurons involved will decrease, the glucose consumption in the affected areas of the brain will lower and you will be able to go on longer.
Again, people tend to underestimate how small efforts can cause this effect when these efforts are unusual.
What to do about it? Expect it, don't get frustrated and don't start self bashing. When you feel that you get tired, take a rest. Ideally, take a nap.
Eat well. If you start working in the morning without a good breakfast, you are going to crash very soon. Read nutrition advice for bodybuilders. Ironically, what is good for muscle is also good for your brain.
You can eat sugary stuff, it helps, but if you do keep it healthy - eat fruits, not candy bars. And again, as with workouts - carbs can be good if you are working hard. They are not as good if you are in your normal mode. Don't use intellectual work as an excuse to become a sugar-junkie.

Hope this helps. I assume that this fatigue appears only when you start doing mental work. If it happens without any clear reason, it can be a health problem. Then go see your doctor.