The Real Reason Your So Tired All The Time!

Do you feel tired all the time?  You just don’t feel so great, your body aches, your minds foggy, and you have low energy?  Trust me I’ve been there!  Many people just accept the fact that not feeling so great is part of life and getting older, but that’s simply not the case!  Yet studies have shown that 15% of women, and 10% of men are regularly exhausted.  If it’s not just aging, whats making us so tired?  Check out these 4 reasons why you could be feeling so drained and what you can do to feel re-energized!

Sedentary Lifestyle 

Studies have shown that exercise acts on your central nervous system to increase energy and reduce fatigue.  However, when your extremely tired, getting up to exercise is the absolute last thing you wanna do, I get it!  But speaking from experience,  when I’m tired and force myself to workout, It’s crazy how much energy it gives me!  I leave my workout feeling so energized, alert and de-stressed!

However, don’t let all this talk of exercise freak you out, because you don’t have to do an intense workout to boost your energy!  Even just moderate exercise for 20 minutes can help fight that fatigue.   Start slowly by taking a short walk, swim, or bike, and feel the difference in your energy levels!

Poor Diet

The absolute best way to prevent fatigue is by eating a healthy balanced diet! We’ve all been there, we eat a big greasy meal, and we finish feeling stuffed, and exhausted right? The saying goes, “eat good, feel good”.  To get adequate nutrition and eliminate fatigue, it’s important to eat a balanced mix of food that includes: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and protein.  Eating a plant-based, whole foods diet is the best way to do this!  For more information on this check out, Why you should eat a plant-based diet! 

You can also make positive changes in your diet my making some of these small changes:

• Eat regularly.  Don’t go for long periods without eating!  Eat 3 meals a day, and have a healthy snack in between, such as fruits, vegi’s, or a handful of nuts.
• Drink lots of water.  Dehydration makes you tired, constipated, and moody!  Drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
• Don’t skip breaky.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (we’ve all heard that before)!  Seriously though, a healthy breaky gives you energy for the day, don’t skip it!
• Eat less meat.  Instead of having your meal centered around the protein, fill your plate with vegetables and fruits, with a side of protein.
• Eat less dairy.  There are a ton of dairy-free options out there, try switching the dairy in your morning coffee to coconut/almond milk, and skip the extra cheese!

Extreme Stress

In this world we live in, it seems really difficult to avoid stress!  We encounter stressful situations at work, school, in our relationships, even driving in traffic.  Some stress can actually be healthy and can help us to perform a task, and be more alert.  However, extreme prolonged stress can cause us physical and emotional exhaustion, that can eventually lead to illness.

If you’re experiencing extreme stress, try these tips:

• Exercise regularly.  Physical activity is a huge stress reliever and gives you those feel good endorphins.
• Identify the source of your stress.  Find out whats causing you stress so that you can control it.
• Learn to say no.  This is a big one, often times we bring stress on ourselves by taking on too much.  It’s ok to say no!
• Avoid association with people who stress you out.  If there is someone in your life that causes you a lot of stress, try to spend less time with them.
• View stressful situations in a different way.  Look at stressful situations more positively, sometimes its all in our attitude.
• Accept the things you can’t change.  Some things are unavoidable, we can avoid stress by accepting things the way they are.

If you feel you may have a medical condition causing your fatigue, please consult your healthcare provider.  Has any of these suggestions helped your energy levels?  I love to hear from you, please comment below.

Did you know having a dog also reduces stress?  Check out 5 Reasons Having a Dog is Good for your Health!