Exhausted? Here’s 7 Reasons Why

Hey you!

There are two different kinds of “being tired”. There’s the “I’m so tired after that awesome day with the kids (or, at the amusement park, big project, etc.)” tired. That’s a great feeling of being tired. But, then there’s the “I’m so tired, and I don’t know why” tired. That kind of tired can be draining and there’s nothing to show for it.

I don’t know about you, but I really think it sucks to not have that energy that I need for my day! Lately, I’ve been waking up tired and feeling yucky. One of the things I’m learning through my classes at IIN, that food and lifestyle affect your mood and energy. I think my tiredness might be from a mixture of different things going on in my life.

Exhaustion can creep up on you unexpectedly, but luckily, there are easy ways to fix it!

7 Reasons Why You Might Be Tired:

1. You aren’t getting a restful sleep

Lets get the obvious out of the way. If your sleeping is off, you’ll be tired. Plain and simple. So, if you want more energy during the day, get more sleep at night.

Fix it:

Want to know more about sleeping the right way? Jump over to my article, 7 Changes You Can Make For Better Sleep.

2. You are drinking too much coffee

If you are like me, you might be a bit addicted to caffeine. I’m not as bad as I used to be, but it used to keep me going throughout the day. If you are using caffeine for your energy, then you are way under your natural energy reserves to stay alert.

So, when you drink a lot of caffeine when you are already tired, the reaction will make you more and more dependent on caffeine to stay energetic. It’s a crazy unhealthy cycle to get caught up in. Check out my article on curbing caffeine addiction.

Another problem with drinking coffee when you are tired is the quality of your coffee. According to The Bulletproof Diet, Dave Asprey suggests that the QUALITY of your coffee can have a huge impact on how you feel. He states that before he started paying attention to the quality of his coffee, he was always on a high/crash rollercoaster. Did you know that most coffee is loaded with toxins and one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops? This goes for tea as well! (read Do You Really Know What’s In Your Tea ?)

Fix it:

After your morning coffee, try drinking some refreshing water with lemon instead.  If you must drink coffee, choose organic coffee whenever possible and ask your local coffee shop where their beans come from.  Some of my favorite organic coffee and tea brands are Bulletproof® Coffee and Epic Matcha Green Tea Powder .

3. You’re not drinking enough water

For those of you who don’t know, staying hydrated has a huge effect on how much energy you have.  I’m super bad about drinking water. I have to actually put reminders on my computer.

Drink water.

So simple, right? Upping your water intake will make you more alert and awake-really! Water accounts for approximately 60% of your body weight. Your body requires water in order to function properly. So, if you deny your body the proper hydration it needs, even at minor levels, it can cause various bodily systems to slow down, making you to feel sluggish and tired.

Fix it:

Aim for 5-6 glasses of water per day for awesome energy. Just can’t do it? Just increase whatever you’re drinking now and you will see a difference.

4. You’re eating too much sugar

Sugar (like caffeine) can drain energy after a sugar high (remember the high/low caffeine rollercoaster). When you consume a product containing a high amount of sugar, it causes an increase in the blood sugar levels. The increase in the blood sugar level causes a release of insulin from the pancreas, which  results in sudden decrease of the blood sugar levels. The sudden drop in levels makes you feel sleepy and tired.

Fix it:%3