Not to brag, but I think I’ve solved the so-called “friendship recession.” The secret? Talk about how tired you are. Ask how tired they are. Boom. Chances are good you’ll have that in common.
A new CDC report released earlier this month found that nearly three-quarters of those polled regularly felt fatigued, while nearly one in six felt exhausted every day. It’s more complicated than just a bad night’s sleep: Social media, stress, and overwhelm can all drain our batteries.
Personally, I’m ready to stop bonding over being tired. Here are some small shifts that are making me feel less wiped.
Jail my phone. Earlier this year, I wrote about the Brick, which blocks distracting apps. I’m back to report that it truly is magical. I now stop texts after 8 pm, which gives me a few hours to disconnect before bed.
Take mini-breaks. You don’t need a half hour to meditate. Even 30 seconds to notice what’s around you can offer a reset.
Revisit the classics. I’ve returned to books I haven’t touched since my English major days, like Ulysses (I may need avirtual book club to finish it), as well as YA favorites my 11-year-old has just discovered. Sometimes, the cure for exhaustion is knowing the plot.
The problem is that these products aren’t necessarily interchangeable with Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound. The FDA doesn’t approve compounded medications, and gray-market peptides may contain the wrong dose, a different ingredient, or no active ingredient at all. That easy access poses particular risks for teens and young adults whomay not be appropriate candidates.
In a recent study that has yet to undergo peer review, people who bought products sold as an experimental weight-loss drug outside clinical trials lost less than half as much weight at six to 12 months as trial participants.
For Your Sanity:
Do your research. If you use an online provider, know that some are more reputable than others. Before you toss GLP-1s in your cart alongside your Halloween decorations, find out exactly where the medication comes from and who to contact if something goes wrong.
Question the hype. That influencer who swears by a GLP-1? They may get paid to promote it. Burnt Toast newsletter author Virginia Sole-Smith shares that she and her boyfriend declined free GLP-1s in exchange for a grid post.
Check in with yourself. GLP-1s can bring up complicated feelings about weight and looks. If you could use support, look for a therapist or nutritionist who takes a body-neutral approach.
In a recent Instagram poll, 19% of you said cost is what’s getting in the way of taking care of your mental health, which is fair. Mental health care shouldn’t feel like a luxury purchase. Rula breaks that barrier by connecting you with licensed therapists and psychiatrists, at $15 a session on average with insurance.†
Now through World Mental Health Day on October 10, new patients who book their first session also get a $50 Taskrabbit credit‡ — because one less thing on your to-do list means more room for the appointment that matters most. Match with a therapist who gets you in minutes, and meet with them as soon as tomorrow.
Q: I live with asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, which feels normal at this point. How do I know if that’s actually a problem, and what should I do to get the help I need to feel better?
Featured Expert
Payel Gupta, M.D.
Triple board-certified allergy, asthma, and immunology specialist who treats adults and children in New York City. Her response has been edited for length and clarity.
Payel Gupta, M.D.: When you've lived with asthma for a long time, it's easy to normalize symptoms, but that doesn't mean your asthma is well controlled. Some people may have challenges managing their asthma due to certain risk factors such as where they live, income, air quality, access to medical care and adherence to asthma medications, among others. These risk factors can lead to increased asthma symptoms and attacks which can be especially difficult to manage during Asthma Peak Season (happening now), when asthma-related ER visits spike.*
To help determine your level of asthma control, it is important to track the frequency and severity of your symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, rescue inhaler use, and nighttime waking. Tell your doctor about recent asthma attacks, including whether you needed steroids or visited an urgent care or ER.
Bring that info to an asthma specialist and talk about your goals — fewer attacks, better breathing, and symptom relief. If you're regularly having asthma symptoms or attacks, your current medication(s) may not be enough, and a specialist can help find the right treatment.
