8 Reasons Why You're Always Tired
How many times do you feel exhausted each day? How many times do you wish you could take a quick nap during the day to boost your energy levels? If you're tired all the time, it can be very draining on your work and personal life, affecting both how productive you are at work and how present you are with your friends and family outside of work. It's important to get to the bottom of why you're always tired so that you can find ways to address the issue head-on and help yourself stay awake throughout the day.
1. You're Fatigued by Doing Boring Jobs
It is precisely because we're so bored that we become exhausted. We often think of being tired as a natural result of working at a monotonous job or running around after young children all day, but work and family life can be full of rich experiences.
On some level, we understand that being bored may contribute to our fatigue—and yet these jobs still feel like they take more out of us than others with equal (or greater) responsibilities.
2. You're Overworked
Back in 1965, Americans enjoyed about 25 percent more leisure time than they do today. As our hours at work increase and technology has enabled us to take fewer vacation days and still be connected, we're seeing a rise in fatigue and exhaustion. If you feel tired all of the time, it may be time to reduce your workload.
Perhaps you can find a way to delegate tasks or outsource jobs—to eliminate any unnecessary physical labor on your part—and focus instead on strategic planning and problem solving.
3. Your Sleep Habits are Bad
If you aren't getting enough sleep at night, fatigue can be a constant companion. If you consistently get less than seven hours of shuteye per night, your body will begin to function poorly and fatigue will soon follow. To cure your exhaustion, try to establish a consistent sleep schedule—even on weekends—and avoid screens (phones, tablets, etc.) for an hour or two before bedtime.
When you're tired all of time, you might think that just a few more hours of sleep could solve your problem. Unfortunately, people who suffer from chronic fatigue usually don't get enough sleep – in fact, they might wake up feeling even more tired than when they went to bed. This is because there are other reasons for exhaustion than simply getting insufficient rest. Many people don't realize that staying up late or drinking coffee can actually make them feel worse.
4. You Have Poor Nutrition
Our diets often lack essential vitamins and minerals, which affects our energy levels. In addition to getting enough sleep, it's important to get enough of these key nutrients in order to wake up ready for a day's work.
A multivitamin is a great way to supplement your diet if you feel like your energy levels are subpar. If that doesn't help, talk to your doctor about further testing—it could be something more serious than low B-12 levels.
5. You Are Constantly Searching for Novelty
Humans have a remarkable ability to adapt to our surroundings. In general, we tend to like and seek out activities that stimulate our minds and bodies. But too much stimulation can cause fatigue. If you feel tired all of the time, it's possible that you're experiencing an imbalance between your search for novelty and your brain's ability to cope with stimuli.
To combat fatigue, try lowering your exposure to sensory overload—for example, cut back on social media or television viewing. Also consider incorporating more low-key forms of exercise into your routine—walking is often better than running because it gives you more time to process what's happening around you.
6. You're Always Stressed
Stress, it turns out, is as big a threat to your energy levels as lack of sleep. The stress hormone cortisol can boost alertness in short bursts, but over time its effects wear off, making you feel more exhausted than before.
Fortunately, if you're generally in good health and don't suffer from high blood pressure or other conditions that would require medication for your stress levels to come down immediately, there are plenty of ways to help yourself chill out.
7. You're Consuming Too Much Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it has an energizing effect on your body and mind. However, you should drink caffeine in moderation (or avoid it altogether) because it can have some unwanted side effects when consumed in excess.
If you're tired all of the time, cut back on your intake of coffee, tea and soda (especially during lunch). Rather than relying on these drinks to give you a quick burst of energy, try drinking water throughout your day.
8. Maybe There's an Underlying Health Condition
If you're always tired, it could be due to a variety of health issues. These include sleep apnea, chronic sinus infections, food allergies, or even simple insomnia. Your doctor can help you diagnose what might be causing your fatigue and give you tips for feeling better.
If there's a medical issue behind your exhaustion, don't let it go untreated! Doing so could seriously harm your health over time. So talk to your doc—your body will thank you later.
