## The disease of the century Constant fatigue that does not go away even after sleep reduces quality of life and interferes with work, study, and personal life. A special name has been coined for this condition: chronic fatigue syndrome. There can be many reasons for this problem. Weakness and lack of energy can result from stress, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, and other health problems. But before you rush to the doctor, try to analyze how you spend your free time and whether poor-quality rest is the cause of your fatigue and poor well-being. ## Work hard, rest well Rest is about recharging your internal batteries, restoring resources, and fine-tuning internal systems. Simply sleeping in to feel a surge of new energy is not enough, especially if you are constantly experiencing a lack of energy. Here are eight rules for proper rest: - Rest should be firmly fixed in your daily routine and include short breaks (3-5 minutes), long breaks (15-60 minutes), leisure time after work (1-3 hours), nighttime sleep (7-9 hours), weekends (1-2 days), and vacations (1 to 4 weeks). > Try to take a vacation once a season‒for example, by combining vacation days with long weekends. - Take breaks. On Wednesday or Thursday, it is worth taking a half-day off. Leave work early, go to the theater or cinema, meet friends, or visit a spa. Taking breaks will increase your productivity during the rest of the week. - Alternate types of rest. Scientists identify seven types: ===physical (sleep, massage, spa), mental (clears the head), emotional (spending time with loved ones or a psychologist), social (time alone or in good company), sensory (in silence or nature), creative (any creative activities), and spiritual (prayer, meditation). - Change your activities. Analyze what specifically caused your fatigue and choose the opposite type of activity. If you socialize a lot, social or emotional relaxation is suitable. If you work at a computer, try sensory or spiritual relaxation, etc. The main thing is to distract yourself from your daily routine, change your surroundings, and try something new. - Try new things. Rest should not be monotonous. Do something you've never done before, at least every once in a while. You can't know whether an activity will recharge you or drain your energy until you try it. - Don't skip it. Scheduled rest time cannot be canceled or postponed. Take your rest as seriously as you take your work. Your medicine is necessary for you to be even more effective in the future. - Learn to relax. Give yourself over to rest completely: shut yourself off from annoying information, turn off your phone, and create the most comfortable conditions. Don't wait until you're tired. Resting before you get tired allows you to stay productive and in a good mood for longer. ## Don't wait We don't want to scare you, but those who dismiss suggestions to rest more, saying that they will rest later when they retire, are seriously risking not living to see that day. If you ignore fatigue for a long time, it can lead to severe health problems, including immune system disorders, hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, and excess weight, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, and even mental disorders. Therefore, even if you are a notorious workaholic, recognize the importance of rest and include it in your schedule!