By Helen Huntsman

You know that saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”?

I’ve decided that people who say that have never actually been tired.

Today I want to share a little about my experience with chronic fatigue. The Rare Faith assignment was to talk about “how to overcome it.” And while I wish I had the magic answer (I’d be a rich lady if I did!), what I can offer is some personal insight. This article is about my own health journey—and just a friendly reminder: I’m not a doctor. My hope is that by sharing my experience, I can help someone else communicate more clearly with their healthcare team.

The Beginning: That Doctor Visit

My first real experience with fatigue hit after having my first child via c-section. My mother-in-law was driving me to a post-op appointment, and I was crying in the car—not from pain, but because I was so tired. I walked into the doctor’s office and said, “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

And he said something I’ll never forget:

“You are. In prisoner of war camps, the first thing they do to mess with you is they mess with your sleep.”

From 1988 to 1995, I don’t think I ever got a full night’s sleep. I was living in a fog of fatigue, dealing with arthritis pain, and running three businesses.

And let’s be honest: when you’re a mom, you’re basically running a corporation. There’s just no HR department in sight.

#1: Saying No to Get to Bed — Prioritizing Sleep

First and foremost, sleep has to be a priority. That means letting other things go. And really—outside of keeping your kids and family alive—there’s not much more important than sleep.

People will tell you to “set boundaries,” but what they don’t tell you is this: when you first start enforcing them, it’s going to ruffle feathers. It’s going to tick some people off. And that’s okay.

I’ve learned that self-care is not selfish. When I take time to fill my own bucket, I’m so much more capable of helping others.

#2: My Pain… Errr, Health Journal

Next up: my daily health journal. I used to call it my “pain journal,” but I’m working on rebranding that for myself. 😄

Each morning, I check in with my body. I ask, “How you doing?” and jot down what I notice—any pain, what time I went to bed, what time I woke up. This helps me track patterns, spot early signs of trouble, and defend my bedtime when needed.

Sometimes my body just says, “I’m too tired,” and that becomes my cue to reassess the day’s priorities. One time my kitchen floor was so sticky—but I was exhausted. So I just put on tennis shoes and walked right over it. Very empowering.

#3: Hydration (Spoiler: It’s Not Just About Water)

I read a book by Dr. Michael Breus who said we breathe out nearly a liter of water just by breathing. That blew my mind. Without enough water, the body gets stressed and—yep—more tired.

Now, I carry a giant Smartwater bottle (or Costco brand equivalent)—1 liter each—and aim for 3 liters a day (or half my body weight in ounces). Sometimes I’ll even wrap newspaper rubber bands around my bottle to keep track.

But here’s what really drove it home: during a doctor’s visit, I vented about how a little virus had knocked me out for 3 days, while my husband recovered in just a few hours. I was not pleased.

So I asked, “What is going on in my labs for this to be happening?”

She looked at my results and said, “Helen, it’s your water. You’re not absorbing your nutrients without it.”

There I was, investing all this money into supplements, hormone support, and care—only to find out I wasn’t even hydrated enough to absorb them properly.

#4: The Night Owl Spouse Dilemma

I married a hardcore night owl. (Still not sure how I missed that during our two years of dating.)

I tried keeping the TV completely out of the bedroom. Didn’t work.

Now, we have an agreement: after 7 p.m., he watches TV in the family room. 

#5: “This Is the Best Place for Me to Be at This Time”

One of the most helpful affirmations I’ve learned is this:

“This is the best place for me to be at this time.”

Sometimes I’ll be at the gym, on a walk, or doing something else to care for my health, and I’ll feel guilty—like I should be home doing something “more productive.”

But I remind myself that taking care of myself is productive. Because there’s nowhere more important to be than doing what helps me show up as my best self.

What’s Next?

If any of this resonates, maybe there’s an experiment you can run in your own life. Try tracking your health, upping your hydration, or giving yourself permission to rest.

And as always, feel free to connect with me over on Instagram at @pivotyourlife.

Cheering you on always,

Helen Huntsman

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