It almost feels like an epidemic…being tired all the time; bone tired even though we are sure we get a full 8 hours or more of sleep a night.
So, what gives? Why are we all so tired?
The world has become a toxic place to reside. We are surrounded by chemicals every day that interrupt important bodily functions like hormones. Our food is mostly processed and even if we are buy fresh food items, the nutrients aren’t as dense as they once were. We have all had to make extremely difficult changes to our lifestyle since the pandemic of 2020 and now, we face the stress of economic unrest. We may think it doesn’t affect us but it’s often these micro offenses that build over time and take a toll, we hardly perceive is happening, at least until it’s too late.
If you find you are always tired, regardless of how much sleep you get, it’s time to pay attention and inventory your life, to see where you can make positive changes that lead to better health. Here’s a list of ideas to get you thinking about the specifics of your own life.
- Stress- mental, physical and emotional stress may all feel a little different but they can each wreak havoc on your body and soul.
- Not getting restful sleep. This means, tossing and turning, pain/discomfort, or even getting up every couple of hours to use the bathroom.
- Dehydration. This is probably a big surprise. Even mild dehydration can cause you to feel tired.
- Sitting for too long. Sitting at a desk all day does nothing to energize you. Make sure you build in time to get up from the desk and move your body. Take a lap around the office.
- Leaky Gut. An unhealthy gut prevents you from getting the nutrients from food that you need and creates food sensitivities and that wears on your body.
- Anemia. Lack of iron in those red blood cells will drain you faster than just about anything. Make sure you follow this issue with your doctor and look into a good multi-vitamin with iron.
- Blood sugar problems will bring on the fatigue and cause you to struggle with low energy.
- Depression and anxiety will wreck your energy levels as important hormones drop.
We could go on. You get the point.
If you are noticing an increase in low energy and fatigue, take a look at your diet and lifestyle first and see if maybe there aren’t things you are doing to wear yourself out. If a little course correction doesn’t provide relief and improvement, then it’s time to check in with your favorite provider at Madison Women’s Clinic. It’s best to make sure your physical health is in tip top shape and rule out any problems.
As women, we often see rest as a weakness. Rest is critical to our overall health. If you struggle to allow yourself to take a break and do nothing then perhaps, that is the problem. Sometimes, it’s easier to run from our problems than to sit still and face them. Women love to run…and run…and run. Before you run yourself into the ground, rest. It may be hard at first, to do allow yourself a few minutes each day, but the effort will be worth it in the end.