Video: 9 ways to manage your cancer fatigue By Mayo Clinic Staff Share Facebook Twitter Print details Anyone who's gone through cancer treatment knows the meaning of the word "fatigue." Treatment can leave you feeling groggy, exhausted and sapped of energy. Making a few small changes to your day can help you get some of that energy back. Try these 9 strategies to boost your activity levels, ease fatigue and feel refreshed. Show transcript 9 ways to manage your cancer fatigue There's a lot you can do to manage your energy while living with cancer. Protect your routine. Fewer disruptions mean less energy-zapping stress. Play to your energy. What time are you at your best? Plan activities then. Increase your physical activity. The research is clear that moving is medicine. So make it a priority. Make a good night's sleep your priority. Leave time for more hours of rest if you need them. Prioritize daily goals. Get energized as you cross things off your list. Put chairs in every room. Mini-rests while brushing teeth or prepping food keep energy levels steady. Add some healthy distraction. Dive into a good book or music to escape fatigue while conserving energy. Be careful about online activity. Make sure social media and searching are helping you feel supported, not anxious. Listen to your body. Take heart that fatigue is a normal part of the process and rest when you need to. Guidance from the doctors, nurses and specialists for cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Get more healthy action tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic app. Show references Physical activity and the person with cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/be-healthy-after-treatment/physical-activity-and-the-cancer-patient.html. Accessed Aug. 8, 2024. Napping. National Sleep Foundation. https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/napping. Accessed Aug. 8, 2024. Haddad T (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. October 2016. Cancer-related fatigue. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/fatigue-weakness-sleep/fatigue.html. Accessed Aug. 8, 2024. VID-20305525