Let’s talk about fatigue for a second. For all of the awesome articles I’ve written on what to do when tired, I’m admittedly awful at taking any of that advice to heart. I’ve shamelessly sacrificed good sleep for just one more episode of “Suits,” or that one last check on my social media accounts before going to bed.
Sometimes, 24 hours may seem so short, and like a broken record, your brain replays all you couldn’t achieve for the day. While reflecting on the milestones of the day, the little voice inside you starts saying, You really should do more work. You said you’d do the dishes before going to bed. Why didn’t you create time for that business idea?
For some, no matter how much they try, it’s hard not to feel like they should do more: make more time for their jobs, do laundry more often, get groceries daily… the list is endless. And you know what? We totally get it. But have you ever wondered why you get tired so often and your energy level nose dives? These 5 reasons might be to blame.
Lack of quality sleep
With the daily stress of life that results in so many of us not being able to get a proper night’s sleep, feelings of tiredness are not new. Sometimes, all the efforts in the world couldn’t make us get quality sleep, and other times we sleep for a few hours only to end up right back where we started.
A lack of quality sleep may result in compromised performances and adverse health outcomes such as excessive weight gain, high blood pressure, stroke and depression. If you’d rather not risk your health as a result of skipping the much-need hours of sleep, then try to have a regular sleep routine, sleep in rooms with cooler temperature, ditch naps, and avoid caffeinated drinks.
Doing these would not only boost your energy levels, but also keep you feeling healthier and optimizing your body’s immune function.
Lack of proper nutrition
There are actually some evidence-backed reasons why food and proper diet sustains energy level. The key is to eat meals made up of calories that provide the high nutrients needed to fuel your body.
Imagine the difference between grabbing some ice cream and having some fruit salad for a snack. The ice cream is sweet and will give you instant energy, but you would be needing another sugar fix soon.
The best way to avoid fatigue is to include healthy foods like fresh greens and fruits in your diet, up your magnesium intake, consume whole grains, take vitamins, never skip breakfast, ditch sugar, and stay optimally hydrated.
Little or no physical activity
Sitting on the couch or at your desk for long periods of time may be terrible for your health, increasing the risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, cancer, depression, diabetes, and more.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, all adults need 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and muscle-strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups on 2 or more days per week.
Does this seem like a lot of work for you? Well, you’ve got to realize that one of the antidote for fatigue is engaging in exercises. This can enhance the quality of your sleep, improve digestion, and rejuvenate you naturally. Exercises keep your alert, lower anxiety, and boost your energy levels.
Too much stress
Stress is sometimes inevitable. While we rush between the many demands of life, we can sometimes get burdened with activities. This, in turn, can take a serious toll on our health. We are sometimes completely unaware of how much of an effect stress can take on our bodies.
Did you know that stress might be unknowingly causing you hair loss, dry skin, and excessive sweating? Things may feel out of control, but how about you just dance them out? You could also just snooze them out like a new study in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests.
The trick is to try hard at not stressing out on a daily basis, by first, tracking the cause of stress, learning how to say no, accommodating contrary perspective on issues, practicing calmness, expressing your feelings, and looking at the bigger picture.
Certain health conditions
Many of us can’t function without some coffee. We use it to get our day started and without it, often feel tired and grumpy. An addiction like this, when added to sleeplessness can result in illnesses like anemia, anxiety, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, urinary tract infections and many others.
It can be hard to maintain appearances when you’re having a truly crappy time. But if your eyes are bloodshot from exhaustion, chances are your skin and organs are showing it too. This means that it is time to rejuvenate and strengthen your tired body. You need to start taking actions to find your way out of that fatigue ditch you fall into ever so often, and stay out.
If you suffer any of the earlier mentioned symptoms of fatigue, book an appointment with a qualified healthcare provider and see to a treatment plan as soon as possible.
Bottom line
As you know, life’s better when you’re healthy and strong, so much better. And yes, getting tired often is definitely really, really bad for your overall health and well-being. In fact, one of the best ways to avoid early mortality is to reduce fatigue.
So, when really tired, when we may be blinded by the desire to do so much or too little, we should be taking extra special care of our health. But that doesn’t mean it should feel like work–it just means we all have to be a bit more creative in planning out our daily schedules.
Ask yourself: What real change can I make to get through this point of burnout? Maybe it’s improving time management, planning ahead of activities, or even taking a break from the things that make you feel tired the most.
