Reason why you could be experiencing TATT and what you can do to help it

As the dark, winter nights roll in, you might be experiencing an overwhelming feeling of fatigue and an urge to crawl straight back into bed again each morning.

Apparently, however, there's a stark difference between not having gotten your eight-hours the evening prior, and a condition known colloquially as 'TATT', with British health experts now issuing a warning as to the condition's signs, symptoms and preventatives.

Feeling tired all the time? That's TATT (Getty Stock Image)

What is TATT?

An acronym for feeling 'tired all the time,' the phenomenon is much more common than you might think.

Dr Luke Powles, Associate Clinical Director, Health Clinics Bupa Global and UK advises: "Feeling tired all the time may be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s something you should just ‘put up with’.

"Around one in 20 people who visit their GP go because they’re feeling tired. And many more probably feel like this but don’t tell anyone."

When it comes to living with TATT, there are many things to consider addressing as a potential way to combat the fatigue.

Getting enough sleep

"If you don’t sleep well at night, you’ll feel tired during the day. You may have worries which keep you awake, you may have insomnia, or you may have just developed some bad sleep habits. Looking at your current sleep routine and identifying any changes you can make may help," BUPA suggest.

Getting enough sleep is crucial (Getty Stock Image)

Not getting too stressed

"Coping with stress and worry can be very tiring. This is especially true if you can’t see an end to your troubles. You may have recently gone through an emotional shock such as a bereavement or a relationship break up.

"You may have worries about work, money or family.

"The pandemic has also been difficult for everyone, so it’s understandable to feel weary."

It's pointed out that positive things, including a house move or getting married can also have a stressful knock-on effect, and 'building resilience, and knowing how to cope and deal with your worries [are] an important part of self-care.'

Tracking what you eat and drink

"What you eat and drink can affect how tired you feel. If you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, or enough glucose (sugar) in your blood, this can make you feel tired, lack energy and feel foggy," BUPA advise.

"Not having enough iron in your blood can cause fatigue. This is called Iron deficiency. It may be that you’re not getting enough iron in your diet. If you have periods or are pregnant, you can have a higher chance of iron deficiency. Speak to your GP who may arrange a blood test and iron tablets."

Exercise can combat TATT (Getty Stock Image)

Staying active

"You may feel you’re too tired to exercise. But being active during the day actually helps you feel less tired and improves the quality of your sleep. Try starting with a small amount of exercise, then build it up so you get the benefits of regular activity.

"Choose something you enjoy. Exercising with friends or family, or joining a group, might help you to stay motivated. But don’t over exercise, as this can make you more tired. And try not to exercise in the four hours before you go to bed. It can be difficult to go to sleep so soon after exercising."