There are several stages of sleep. During the night, your brain moves between these stages in cycles, and the types of electrical brain waves generated vary from stage to stage. To feel rested, your brain requires what is called “delta sleep,” named after the brain waves that occur in the third and fourth stages of sleep. REM (short for rapid eye movement) sleep is also important. It’s the stage of sleep when dreaming occurs, and without it, you will feel tired. (See "Insomnia? Getting a Good Night's Sleep" for more information)
Prioritize your time and energy
There may be times when you feel more fatigued than others, and you will have to deal with limitations to your energy. Think of your energy as a resource that you have to conserve for your most important activities. This may involve saying no to lower-priority activities that take up too much of your energy.
Of course, saying no isn't always easy, but it helps you stay focused on the priorities in your life, such as earning a living or spending time with your children. When you’re feeling fatigued, opting out of an activity may allow you to get the rest you need. Saying no to one activity may allow you to say yes to something more important to you.
Ask for help
Successful managers know that they cannot do everything themselves. Borrowing from their techniques, you can learn to delegate tasks that will help you manage your activities. Asking for help may be difficult at first. Because the effects of RA are not always visible, you may be afraid that co-workers and acquaintances will perceive you as lazy.
You may feel embarrassed to ask for help, especially if you’ve always viewed yourself as a high achiever. The following fatigue tips can make it easier to request help.
• Ask for specific help. For example, if you ask someone to take you shopping for one hour every other Tuesday morning, you are letting them know precisely what you need. Also, you show that you understand his or her time is valuable.
• Develop a pool of helpers. Spreading out the tasks keeps the burden from falling on any one person. Keep a list of friends and family and the tasks they’re willing to help with.
• Consider bartering or trading services. If you dislike asking for help, perhaps you can provide a service in return. For instance, offer to watch your friend’s children one afternoon a week at your house, if she will run some errands for you.
