Ask HN: How do you keep your energy level up?

Wow, are you a physician? There are a myriad of reasons this could be happening starting with something as innocent as adjusting. Sitting all day and staring at a computer screen can be exhausting.

Health reasons could be causing exhaustion from low vitamin levels, poor diet, thyroid issues etc. Depression is possible but to throw out something like without a thorough medical work up and off of just a few statements is irresponsible. The OP said nothing about no wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to communicate or be around people, or any of the classic signs of depression nor did he/she mention anything such as feeling blue etc. quite the opposite, enjoys his work, etc. If all it takes is enjoying your job and being exhausted at the end of the day to be diagnosed with depression there would be far more than 10% of US adults with depression.

To the OP, If working out does not raise your energy levels I would suggest having a medical work up to rule out imbalances that are easily remedied. Working out does take time and requires consistency in order to raise energy levels but if it does not then you may need to talk to a physician.

If you really are brand new to the working world I would give it time before looking for solutions to a problem that might ease with time. Soon the newness will wear off and you'll become proficient at the admin portions of your job, if not the job itself (solving problems). The reality is that as the newb on the job you are probably focused and engaged the whole 9 hours onsite and that is exhausting as you have discovered. Have you ever watch kids play at a party or BBQ? They are all riled up and running around at full speed and overly stimulated for 5 or 6 hours. Ask one of their parents and they will tell you -- after an event like that the kid will crash hard and sleep like a rock that night. You are in the same boat. In time you won't have to be fully engaged like that for 9 hours and the remaining mental power and energy will be available in the evenings and weekends for hobbies, family & Etc.

You are like the college football players who make it to the NFL and are used to 8-10 game seasons which in the NFL (including preseason) doesn't get you through the half-way point. You are working for a living now and not in Kansas anymore so it might take some time to adapt to the ebb and flow of life.

That said, it is important for the long term to make your health a priority. Unless you have a child, do not compromise that 7-8 hour sleep because in my experience sleep is one of the most important aspects of good health. Is that 7-8 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep and do you wake up feeling refreshed? If that is not the case you need to investigate. Another concern that I notice in your post is that exercise makes you tired and that is not normal for someone (presumably) in the mid-twenties or even thirties. Unless you are extremely out of shape exercise should make you sleep better, think better and have more energy. Even if you are out of shape at your age a regular exercise routine should very quickly pay much bigger dividends in energy, sleep and general well-being. I highly recommend you pursue that lead and get doctor's evaluation to rule out any problems and start exercising as a life-long habit.

Finally, contra all the other's advice, I would kick the coffee/caffeine or any other stimulants to increase your "energy" (except on an emergency basis). Also, I would limit any alcohol to "relax" because if used more than occasionally the consequences to your well-being are bad. I recently quit drinking coffee and it has really improved my sense of well-being and quality of life. I think all these drugs are detrimental if used daily or even regularly -- they lose their effectiveness and have net negative impact on your capacity to function.

> Antidepressants cause more problems than solve,

I agree with that.