Step 1: Get Tested for ADHD, Depression, and Vitamin D Deficiency
Hey, friends!
I'm writing a book How to Beat Procrastination With 5-Minute Sprints, and this blog post is a chapter in the book.
In my 30s, I hit a brick wall. My personal energy tanked, and I was chronically exhausted. Focusing on projects at work was nearly impossible, and I struggled to learn complex software systems. Exhaustion killed my short-term memory, and I couldn't recall discussions, details, and decisions from the day before.
I felt like a black hole had siphoned my energy, and a thick fog had enveloped my mind. The result? I was much dumber than before, with my mental acuity ranking higher than a goldfish but lower than a turkey.
So guess what I did? I procrastinated! After all, why exert all that effort to learn a new software system if you're just gonna forget everything in ten minutes?
This went on for months with no relief.
I tried many things, all to no avail. Eat more fruits and vegetables? Check. Go to bed earlier? Check. Watch motivational videos and read inspirational stories? Check, check, check.
Nothing seemed to work, and I felt kinda hopeless. Would this be my life going forward, being exhausted and unmotivated to do all but the bare necessities?
At some point, I saw my doctor for a routine physical and told him about my symptoms. He ordered some tests, and we discovered a vitamin D deficiency. (Turns out, this is common for people who work indoors or live in northern latitudes. I check both boxes!)
I started a daily supplement, and it helped. Slowly, my energy began to return, and the mental fog began to lift. This motivated me to make other healthy choices.
Now, my energy levels are like a battery. When it's at 100%, I'm cheerful and enthusiastic, and I feel unstoppable. And when it's at 0%, I can't pull myself out of bed, and no one wants to be around me!
When I had a vitamin D deficiency, my battery couldn't go above 30%. It had a permanent dampener on it. I could pull myself out of bed and drag myself to work, but that was it.
When I started taking a vitamin D supplement, my battery could go up to 45%. Then, I made other healthy choices—like homemade smoothies with blueberries and leafy greens—which nudged the limit higher.
Nowadays, I feel much better. Granted, my battery won't go to 90% most days, and I'm still working through lingering issues, but I'm in a much better spot than I was before.
So here's my advice to you: See your doctor. Tell them about any struggles with focus, procrastination, fatigue, sadness, etc. Some treatable ailment—like ADHD, depression, sleep apnea, or a vitamin deficiency—may lurk behind your procrastination.
But you can't fix what you don't even know about. So make an appointment and see your doctor.
Read more from How to Beat Procrastination With 5-Minute Sprints.
Thanks to Brynn Stewart for reading a draft of this!