Carol Heffernan, a 43-year-old woman from Oshkosh,regularly felt worn out from working, sending her two kids to school and playdates, and taking care of housework. But after the COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the kids were suddenly at home all day and learning remotely, her common weariness quickly turned into full-on exhaustion.
“It just added up all the extra responsibility and the mental load,” she says. “I felt bad-tempered and tired, and it wasn’t due to lack of sleep.” If there’s one thing many of us have in common, it’s that we’re tired. Doctors even have a name for it, “tired all the time”, or TATT for short. The solution isn’t always as simple as getting more sleep. Nearly a quarter of people who get seven or more hours of rest a night report that they still wake up feeling tired most days.
A few weeks after her tiredness set in, Heffernan decided to drop everything and go for a walk, which she hadn't done since the pandemic began. “I just want to be myself,” she says. “I need a break.” When she returned, she felt recharged and decided to make a habit of it.
Doing something active when you’re feeling sluggish will actually increase your energy, not consuming the little energy that you have. In fact, researchers at Georgia University found that just ten minutes of low or moderate intensity exercise gave study participants a no-ticeable energy boost. Exercise also works its magic at the cellular level. The mitochondria, the parts of ell that provide energy to muscles, can grow more powerful and numerous after aerobic exercise, providing a continuous source of increasing energy to help you work hard.
Now, Heffernan goes for a daily 45-minute stroll. “The walks feed me spiritually, emo-tionally and physically,” she says. “I have something to look forward to every afternoon. I’m in a better mood and I’m also energetic. Of course, getting more exercise isn’t the only defense against TATT syndrome.”
4. What was wrong with Heffernan after the COVID-19 hit?
A.She lacked enough sleep. | B.She felt tired all the time. |
C.She always woke up at night. | D.She suffered from CoVID-19. |
5. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us about Heffernan?
A.Her hobby and habit. | B.Her regret and sadness. |
C.Her tiredness and helplessness. | D.Her determination and action. |
6. What does the underlined word “sluggish” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Lazy. | B.Warm. | C.Refreshed. | D.Energetic. |
7. How does Heffernan feel about her life now?
A.Puzzled. | B.Curious. | C.Optimistic. | D.Concerned. |