Disrupted sleep is normal; it’s something that every single human on Earth will experience at some point, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. A bad night’s slumber doesn’t just affect you physically, but mentally too, turning even the most minor tasks into a relentless uphill climb.
Vogue’s top supplements for tiredness at a glance:
There is no shortage of tech to optimise your sleep environment, and even more that can monitor how well you’ve slept. But when morning comes, all the data in the world won’t help you tackle the endurance of modern life. And before you reach for that second (third and fourth) cup of coffee, it’s worth looking at the vitamins and minerals that you are incorporating into your diet to keep you energised. To support this, a growing wave of snooze-mode-fighting supplements offers a sustained alternative to quick-fix caffeine in the hopes of powering up the day and helping you stay sharp when tiredness sets in.
“Fatigue is something most of us experience at some point, whether it’s feeling constantly run down, struggling to focus, or waking up tired even after a full night’s rest,” says registered nutritionist Ella Kaur Maan. She discusses many causes for that drained feeling – be it poor sleep or busy schedules – but also references how it may be nutritional gaps that are preventing you from getting restorative eight hours. “While it’s often attributed to busy schedules or poor sleep, fatigue can also be linked to underlying nutritional gaps, stress, and how efficiently the body can produce and use energy,” she says. “In many cases, it’s not just one single cause, but a combination of factors working together.”
To redress these imbalances, it may be worthwhile to invest in supplements for tiredness with key, evidence-backed nutrients for energy support, including iron, vitamin B12 and magnesium. Maan adds that “Even with a relatively balanced diet, it can be difficult to consistently meet optimal levels of the aforementioned nutrients,” especially she stresses if you’re “following plant-based diets or with increased physical or mental demands.” When deficient, poor energy metabolism occurs. “The body relies on a range of vitamins and minerals to convert food into usable energy. If these nutrients are lacking, energy production becomes less efficient, leading to that persistent feeling of tiredness.” Then there are lifestyle factors like stress that make addressing dietary add-ons more important. “Chronic stress, lack of sleep and being constantly on the go can increase the body’s requirement for certain nutrients, particularly magnesium and B vitamins, which support the nervous system and help regulate the stress response.”