Have you ever felt exhausted? I don’t mean the kind that comes with missing an hour of sleep here or there. I mean the kind that feels like you’re dragging a giant anchor around behind you everywhere you go. It’s the kind you feel in your bones when you finally stop or sit down at the end of a very full day or the kind that makes you feel “too tired to sleep” once you’re nestled into bed…

There are tons of lifestyle tips that can help, like getting more sleep, avoiding caffeine, getting exercise, eating healthier, trying meditation, and so many more… And, of course, for extreme cases of fatigue, you’ll want to consult your doctor to be sure it’s not stemming from some type of medical condition…

In my experience, stress plays a big part in how you feel by the end of the day. And, the one thing that can wreck your ability to bounce back from fatigue more than anything I can think of is how you process and deal with the stress that may be making you feel so tired.

Sometimes, you can simply purge the stressors out of your life. But, that’s not always the case. So, here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way that may help you when you are “stuck” with the people or things that are zapping you:

1. Admit to yourself (even if it’s only a brief thought) when people or situations are stressful.
2. Give yourself permission to diffuse the stressors when and where you can.
3. Don’t punish yourself for the stressors you can’t diffuse. (Sometimes it’s just out of your hands.)
4. Identify a few things you can either add or subtract from your day-to-day to help bring your energy levels back on track.
5. Remember to reflect on the positives of your life, and give yourself credit for the good things.
6. Take a deep breath and relax.