Fatigue in men: causes, signs and self-care

When is feeling tired still normal?

Fatigue is more than sleepiness. It is a subjective feeling of low energy, increased sensitivity to exertion and reduced physical or mental resilience. You become exhausted more quickly, have difficulty concentrating, feel irritable and ordinary tasks feel heavier than usual.

Temporary tiredness after a busy week, a bad night or an intense training session is normal, as long as you recover within a few days. Extreme fatigue is different in that recovery does not occur despite sufficient rest and the complaint persists for weeks to months. Our advice: set aside one fixed moment in the evening to briefly check in with how you are feeling, rather than only responding when you are truly exhausted.

What causes tired legs?

Tired legs are a common complaint with a variety of causes. The feeling of heaviness, tension or fatigue in the legs is often linked to how your day looks and how your circulation is functioning.

Typical causes of tired legs include:

• Prolonged standing or sitting during work or travel

• Overexertion from intensive exercise or suddenly walking a great deal

• Reduced blood circulation, for example with varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

• Being overweight, smoking and a hereditary predisposition to vascular problems

With overexertion, the feeling generally disappears after sufficient rest. With chronic venous insufficiency, the veins in the legs return blood less effectively, leading to a persistent feeling of heaviness and pain, sometimes with swelling. That distinction matters: tired legs after sport are a recovery issue, while tired legs that do not go away and are accompanied by varicose veins or swelling require medical assessment.

What does prolonged screen use do to your eyes?

Eye fatigue occurs mainly with prolonged screen use. Infrequent blinking, poor lighting, sustained focus at close range and insufficient sleep cause burning, dry and heavy eyes, blurred vision and difficulty concentrating at the end of the day.

Although eye fatigue is primarily a local complaint, it often occurs as part of broader mental fatigue after long working days. Practical adjustments help: looking away from your screen regularly, adjusting light and contrast and building in sufficient breaks. For persistent complaints it is wise to consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist, especially if your prescription has not been checked for some time.

Extreme fatigue and combinations of complaints

Extreme fatigue differs from ordinary tiredness in that recovery does not occur despite rest and the complaint persists for weeks to months. Possible underlying causes include cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, depression, hormonal disorders or chronic infections. Fatigue should always be assessed in combination with other signs.

Some combinations of complaints require immediate medical attention:

• Persistent sore throat and fatigue that does not improve can be consistent with infections or other conditions and should be assessed by a GP

• Gout and fatigue are connected through the pain and inflammation caused by gout attacks, which can seriously disrupt sleep and daily functioning; gout is a medical condition that falls outside the scope of self-care

• Yellow whites of the eyes combined with fatigue is a warning sign that may indicate liver or bile duct problems and requires immediate medical attention

Fatigue that persists for more than a few weeks or is accompanied by fever, weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pain or severe pain is a reason to involve a GP.

Magnesium and fatigue: within the official boundaries

Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. That is the exact wording from Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 and the only formulation that is permitted. A product may only carry this claim when it demonstrably qualifies as at least a source of magnesium according to European nutritional guidelines. The claim belongs to magnesium as a nutrient, not to a brand or product in itself. Formulations such as "prevents fatigue", "makes you energetic" or "tackles fatigue" are not permitted.

When choosing a magnesium supplement, three things are relevant: whether the product demonstrably qualifies as a source of magnesium, which form or forms of magnesium are used and at what time of day you take it. A dosage that remains well within the safe upper limit is a basic requirement.

It is precisely along those criteria that we composed our formulas. In our nutritional supplements collection you will find magnesium supplements designed for a fixed moment in your day or evening, without unnecessary complexity. We see supplements as one part of a broader pattern of rhythm and regularity, not as a replacement for sleep, movement or medical care.

Fatigue as a fixed part of your daily check-in

A fixed evening routine helps to give recovery and sleep a structural place in your day. Not as a solution for fatigue, but as a moment to consciously register how you are feeling. Self-care for fatigue starts with sleep patterns, screen time, movement and nutrition. Supplements are one part of that. We call this the evening ritual: a repeatable moment that helps you recognise patterns before fatigue accumulates.

In our nutritional supplements collection you will find formulas with magnesium and other nutrients, composed for a fixed morning or evening routine. The collection is intended as part of a daily routine, not as a treatment for fatigue.

View the nutritional supplements

Frequently asked questions about fatigue

When is fatigue still a normal response to a busy period or lack of sleep?

Temporary tiredness after a busy period, a bad night or an intense training session is normal if you recover within a few days. Once fatigue persists despite sufficient rest, or lasts longer than two to three weeks, it is wise to look further. Recovery is the key word: if that is not happening, there is more going on than a busy week.

What causes of fatigue are most common in men?

Lack of sleep, chronic stress, high work pressure, unhealthy diet, little exercise, alcohol and smoking are the most common factors. Underlying conditions such as anaemia, thyroid problems, sleep apnoea or hormonal disorders can also play a role. A GP looks at the combination of factors to properly understand the cause.

What exactly is extreme fatigue?

Extreme fatigue is a level of tiredness at which simple activities become difficult, recovery does not occur despite rest and the complaint persists for weeks to months. It goes beyond sleepiness: concentration, mood and daily functioning are noticeably affected. With extreme fatigue, medical assessment is necessary to rule out an underlying cause.

What are typical causes of tired legs?

Tired legs are often caused by prolonged standing or sitting, overexertion from sport or work, reduced blood circulation with varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency, being overweight and smoking. With overexertion, the legs generally recover quickly after rest. With chronic venous insufficiency, the heavy, painful feeling persists longer and is sometimes accompanied by swelling.

What are the most noticeable signs of tired eyes?

Burning, dry or heavy eyes, difficulty focusing and blurred vision are the most recognisable signs. Prolonged screen use, infrequent blinking and poor lighting are common causes. Tired eyes often go hand in hand with headaches and difficulty concentrating at the end of a long working day.

What does the combination of persistent sore throat and fatigue mean?

The combination of a persistent sore throat and fatigue can be consistent with a viral infection, but also with other conditions. When both complaints persist for more than a week or worsen, it is wise to consult a GP. Self-care is not sufficient for a combination that does not improve.

How are gout and fatigue connected?

Gout is a joint inflammation caused by urate crystals that produces severe pain and inflammation. That pain disrupts sleep and daily functioning, causing fatigue to occur as a secondary complaint. Gout is a medical condition that requires treatment; fatigue with gout is a consequence of pain and inflammation, not an independent complaint to be addressed with self-care.

Why is yellow whites of the eyes combined with fatigue a warning sign?

Yellow whites of the eyes, also known as jaundice, indicate a disruption in the breakdown of bilirubin, often due to liver or bile duct problems. Fatigue may occur alongside this, but is not the primary complaint. The combination of yellow whites of the eyes and fatigue requires immediate medical attention and falls entirely outside the scope of self-care or supplements.