What should you know about spring fatigue?

You may notice sleepiness during the day, reduced concentration, less motivation or needing more effort for familiar tasks. Longer daylight can shift bedtime and wake time, while warmer weather, travel, schedule changes and seasonal allergies can disturb sleep. Fatigue can also reflect dehydration, emotional strain, an infection or a condition affecting blood counts, digestion or kidney function. Spring timing alone does not identify the cause.

Keep track of when the tiredness began, how it affects daily activities, your sleep quality, mood, medicines, alcohol use and any symptoms such as fever, breathlessness, weight change, thirst or bowel changes. This pattern gives a clinician useful context.

Set consistent sleep and wake times, get daylight early in the day, and add gentle movement if you feel able. Drink regularly, eat balanced meals, and avoid using excess caffeine late in the day to compensate for poor sleep. Treat nasal allergy symptoms according to advice from a pharmacist or clinician, and review any recent change in medicines or routine. Avoid driving or safety-sensitive work when you are too drowsy to stay alert.

Arrange a medical appointment if fatigue persists despite rest and routine changes, keeps returning, limits work or self-care, or comes with symptoms such as pale skin, heavy bleeding, persistent thirst, swollen legs, ongoing diarrhoea, low mood or loud snoring with unrefreshing sleep. A clinician may review your history, examine you and decide whether tests are appropriate. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, new confusion, or sudden weakness.

Ask: What causes fit my pattern of fatigue? Could my sleep, mood, medicines or diet be contributing? Do my other symptoms suggest a problem such as Anaemia, Dehydration or Coeliac Disease? Which changes should prompt earlier review, and when should we reassess if my energy does not improve?