Fatigue and tiredness often get tossed around like they mean the same thing, but they’re actually pretty different. They may feel similar, but understanding the difference can greatly impact your well-being. Tiredness is usually a short-term lack of energy that often improves with sleep or rest, and feeling tired is far more common than experiencing fatigue. Research shows that 13.5% of adults aged 18 and older reported feeling very tired or exhausted most days. On top of that, women reported higher rates of feeling tired than men. Fatigue, on the other hand, is more extreme. A fatigued individual undergoes consistent mental or physical exhaustion to the point where the feeling impacts their lives. For example, they may be constantly unable to concentrate during work or school hours. They may even feel apathetic towards things they typically enjoy, or lose motivation to do activities. Common causes of feeling fatigued and tired often overlap, which explains why people confuse the definitions. People can experience fatigue or tiredness because of several factors, including poor dietary choices, insomnia, exercising too much or too little, and depression. If you’re feeling fatigued or tired and can’t figure out why, it’s a good idea to check in with a doctor.
