Staying Healthy

Ways to maximize your energy

Lifestyle tweaks and a little planning will help reduce fatigue and give you more oomph for everyday activities.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter

photo of a senior couple jogging across a pedestrian bridge, with a large hill visible behind them

The boundless energy we took for granted in youth usually fades as we age. While we once had the ability to tackle lots of strenuous or stressful tasks in a day, now even a few bursts of activity can leave us feeling flat-out fatigued. So what happens to our energy? Can we rev it back up? And how can we make the most of the energy we have?

Why energy changes

Your energy level can decline as a result of aging, illness, or other factors. Here are some of the main ones.

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About the Author

photo of Heidi Godman

Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter

Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter. Before coming to the Health Letter, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow … See Full Bio
View all posts by Heidi Godman

About the Reviewer

photo of Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter

Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is the Steven P. Simcox/Patrick A. Clifford/James H. Higby Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, senior physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and editor in chief of the Harvard … See Full Bio
View all posts by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Boosting Your Energy

Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease, and it’s experienced differently by different people. Fatigue from stress or lack of sleep usually subsides after a good night’s rest, while other fatigue is more persistent and may be debilitating even after restful sleep. Harvard’s Special Health Report Boosting Your Energy provides advice and information from world-renowned medical experts that can help you discover the cause of your fatigue and find the right treatment or lifestyle changes.

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