Spring fatigue: advice on how to fight it

Rising temperatures, more sunshine and the awakening of nature with the arrival of spring recharges most of us with new energy. However, this is not true for everyone. Many people struggle with symptoms of intense fatigue, which can extinguish any spark in them. What's behind the so-called spring fatigue and how can it be tackled effectively? We will answer this and other questions in our article today.

What is spring fatigue?

In medical terms, spring fatigue is very difficult to describe. Experts' opinions vary, and there aren't many studies that have treated this topic. However, in short, we can say that it is a general fatigue caused by changes in our body's hormonal response and rhythm.

In fact, during winter our body usually gets used to a completely different routine. It is usual to spend less time in the fresh air or to be less physically active. The body reacts to this by, among other things, constricting the blood vessels, which must, however, expand again with the arrival of warmer weather. This is associated with a drop in blood pressure, which contributes to the symptoms of spring fatigue. When a higher load of toxins adds its bit to the mill, we are in for a problem.

Another key factor is a change in hormonal balance. Serotonin (the happiness hormone) starts to be released in higher levels, which is of course a good thing. In contrast, melatonin production, which is responsible for the quality of sleep, decreases. This is crucial in the fight against spring fatigue.

Symptoms of spring fatigue

Symptoms of spring fatigue can vary from person to person. For some people it can manifest itself mildly, while for others it can affect life so much that they are virtually unable to do any activity. However, the most commonly reported symptoms of spring fatigue include:

• feeling weak and exhausted
• irritability to hostility
• lethargy
• headaches and joint pain
• dizziness
• absent-mindedness
• tendencies to depression and anxiety

Virtually anyone can be affected by spring fatigue, but it turns out that the most susceptibleThe most susceptible groups are women with low blood pressure, people in poor physical condition or those under a lot of stress. Most often, spring fatigue arrives in early March and subsides no later than sometime in April. However, its duration is also extremely individual.

Prevention of spring fatigue

Do you belong to an at-risk group or do you commonly experience spring fatigue? Don't despair, it can be prevented! In the following section of this article, we will look at ways in which you can eliminate it completely or at least reduce its effects.

Sleep

In today's hectic times, many people tend to underestimate or neglect the importance of sleep. This is the worst thing you can do in the case of spring fatigue. Studies show that quality sleep plays an absolutely crucial role in its prevention.

Establishing good sleep habits is the alpha and omega of fighting off spring fatigue before it even develops. If you're struggling with sleep, try one of our 21 tips for better sleep and learn how to work with this indispensable aspect of our lives.

Vitamins and minerals

Over the winter, our immune system is severely weakened and it tends to be at its worst as the winter ends. It's therefore a good idea to give it at least a little help by increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals. Ideally, of course, you should get most of them from a healthy diet and a sufficient supply of fruit and vegetables. However, this can be quite tricky, as shops are not yet stocked with seasonal produce at the end of winter.

An important element is, for example, zinc, the lack of which has a huge impact on the overall fatigue of the organism. You can also reach for one of our recommended top vitamins C, which also plays an important role in the fight against fatigue, and the body cannot build up long-term reserves. That's why it's a good idea to replenish it regularly.

B vitamins are also extremely important, as they help regulate our energy vitamin. Particularly important is vitamin B12, which significantly contributes to the production of serotonin, thereby improving mood.

Regular exercise

It is well known that serotonin is also released during exercise and any other form of movement. So it definitely doesn't pay to slack off. It is ideal to combine exercise with being outdoors, as the spring sunshine washes away vitamin D, which is itself very important for fighting fatigue and also acts as a natural antioxidant.

So get out into nature for at least 30 minutes every day, take a pleasant walk around town or go for a run. Not only will you chase away fatigue, but you'll also get your blood flowing. Cardio exercise, which we covered in our article " Cardio under the microscope", winds upc effectively combats the fat deposits that tend to build up during the winter.

A quality diet

A healthy, quality diet is important for the body at all times. Without it, you'll find it hard to reach your fitness goals and equally difficult to fight off spring fatigue. With the arrival of spring, new possibilities for your diet begin to open upseasonal ingredients or, for example, herbs and sprouts that you can safely incorporate. Many of these contain powerful antioxidants and trace elements that are generally very healthy for the body. Avoid refined sugars and high-fat foods.

What to do if prevention doesn't work?

Sometimes things just don't sit right, and even if you've done everything right, spring fatigue may not elude you. In such cases, just don't panic and keep up the good work. Get out in the fresh air regularly, exercise and maintain a healthy diet. If necessary, increase your intake of vitamins and minerals - look for suitableYou can find suitable products in our comparison of the best multivitamins, for example .

At the same time, don't be afraid of your surroundings. We understand that you may not be in the mood for other people, but there is nothing more mentally beneficialthan talking to someone close to you about your problems and addressing them as soon as possible. Maybe you'll come up with other ideas that won't even make you think about your fatigue.