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A research conducted with teenage pupils shows that two thirds of them are tired when they go to school in the mornings, and only one in ten feels they are well-rested at the beginning of a day. Merike Sisask, professor of social healthcare at Tallinn University School of Governance, Law and Society asks if this is an epidemic of fatigue.

Is fatigue an illness? Probably not. Nevertheless, it is a clear sign from our bodies that our health is in danger and ignoring it will lead to illness.

How to stay healthy? First, let us see what factors influence health. Genetics and the environment both count for 20% of our health, medical services for another 10%, and a full 50% is up to our lifestyle. Half of our health is down to our own choices.

What do we mean by lifestyle? We mean our habits concerning sleep, activity, food, drinking, and our conscious existence at all times. Our lifestyle is everything that influences our physical and mental form, all the small choices that keep our lives in balance. Balance between the body and the mind, work and rest, social activity and being alone, is essential.

The health of the individual and the nation improves vastly the minute the individual acknowledges their own responsibility for their health. Until they think ‘I’ll do what I want, eat and drink what I want, moves as much (meaning: little) as I want to; the doctors, socials services and medicine is created to fix the problems I have caused with my thinking and activities,’ the nation as a whole will not be healthy. As long as we concentrate on fighting against our illnesses instead of staying healthy, we will attract new diseases.

Do not become a victim to the fatigue epidemic! The best vaccine is a healthy and active lifestyle.

Tallinn University has set a goal to promote intelligent lifestyle. One of our interdisciplinary focus fields for 2015-2020 is healthy and sustainable lifestyle.