Tired All the Time? Why We Are Constantly Exhausted These Days and How to Get More Energy
Spent, shattered, exhausted, sleepy. Why are we tired all the time? Want more energy? Read on.
Given the choice: more clothes, more shoes, a another week of vacation or tons more energy, which one would you pick? I know the choice I prefer.
Tiredness has become such a common state of being that doctors have developed a term for it. “TATT” stands for “tired all the time”.
ARE YOU TIRED OR ILL?
If you have been feeling exhausted for more than a few weeks and there is no obvious reason (e.g. recent illness, lack of sleep, stress, overwork), you might be suffering from an illness. A visit to the doctor and some standard tests including blood work should help look for any underlying problems.
Fatigue may be caused by anaemia, diabetes, fibroids, sleep disorders, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, menopause, cancer and others. This list looks scary and it is all too easy to attempt self-diagnosis or work yourself up into a state of hypochondria. Just visit the doctor to put your mind at ease. I suffered from exhaustion for 4 painful weeks. I felt like a zombie and was so tired that all my senses seem to shut down too. For example, I could have sworn my hearing had weakened. I was surprised at the diagnosis. I had taken medication for an ear infection three months before and it turns out that my ear infection had never fully gone away. So when I was sleeping my ear was unable to filter out sounds (your ear filters out noises as you sleep in the same way that fish can sleep even though they do not have eyelids). Another round of antibiotics and my tiredness disappeared.
GET MORE SLEEP
This might sound like the most obvious advice but many adults do not get the recommended average of seven to eight hours of sleep at night. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every morning, even weekends to get your body into a good routine. And do not bring your phone, computer, blackberry, ipad or watch TV in your bedroom.
SKIP THE PROCESSED FOOD
Avoid white carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, pasta, rice cereal, bagels etc as they give you fake energy surges which results in big energy dips later on. Eat more nuts, seeds, protein and veggies instead. And always eat breakfast in the morning. Think of food as fuel, without it, you will be running on empty.
YOU CAN’T BEAT AN EGG
Not so long ago, eggs were considered cholesterol-packed unhealthy no-nos, but the new thinking goes back to the old thinking that eggs are superfoods, packed with 9 essential amino acids, choline (good for the brain and nervous system) and vitamin D. Eggs will help keep your body healthy and energized.
DRINK MORE WATER
Your fatigue may be caused by dehydration. If your urine is dark yellow you are not drinking enough water. Keep a big bottle of water beside you as a regular reminded to drink more water.
TAKE BREAKS
Louisiana State University found that briefer, more frequent breaks were better for workers in terms of increasing their productivity and beating fatigue. Resting for even just one minute, 3-4 times in an hour can do you the world of good.