That's Fit

• Maintain a regular schedule
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine
• Create a comfortable, sleep-conducive environment
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillow
• Keep televisions, work, computers, and other distractions out of your bedroom
• Don't eat 2-3 hours before going to bed
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid caffeine
• Don't drink alcohol close to bedtime.

As far as exciting, outdoor summer events go, it doesn't get much hotter than the New Orleans Jazz Festival, both for the ultra-hip grooves as well as the soaring Louisiana temperatures. As one music-loving blogger documents, the beats were hot but so was the blazing sun, making it necessary to plan ahead when going to this and similar events in order to avoid heat-related illnesses.

While certain groups are more prone to being affected by hot and humid weather -- young children and the elderly are especially at risk -- anyone can wind up with sunstroke, heat exhaustion and painful sunburns if they're not careful. If you know that you will be attending a festival, concert, fair or other outdoor event, check out this article first as it details the symptoms to look for when diagnosing various illnesses caused by extreme heat as well as how to treat them.

A range of tips to help avoid getting sick in the sun are also given and some of the most important include wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 15, wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and, if possible, spending some time in an air-conditioned area or at least trying to find some shade from time to time. Most importantly, staying well hydrated is a necessity. This means not only drinking a lot of water, but also avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks as these will have the opposite effect and dehydrate you.

It's a total "catch 22" -- you feel tired so you don't want to exercise, but you need to exercise in order to feel less tired. So what's a person to do? It sounds obvious, but one answer might be as simple as trying to get better sleep. This can be a tough thing for many people to do, although it's possible that some just haven't given it conscious thought before. Some suggestions on how to sleep deeper or catch up on missed hours are to take a shower/bath before bedtime or squeeze in a quick power-nap in the afternoon.

A suggestion I found interesting to feel more energized was de-stressing by taking 10 minutes to clear your head, reflect, and relax. The idea is that sometimes physical fatigue can really just be symptom of an overstimulated or stressed-out mind. Cure the head, cure the body.

Other nixes for fatigue include drinking more water, changing eating habits to include several mini-meals and snacks throughout the day, and of course getting your heart pumping in some kind of physical activity to boost endorphins and feel better.