5 Reasons Why You Feel Tired

Note: This blog post is a sponsored conversation written by Lynn Smythe, the Founder and Chief Blogger for The Creative Cottage lifestyle blog. The opinions, thoughts, ideas and text are all mine.

Are you going through one of those times where you just feel tired…all the time? No matter how much sleep you get or what you do, you just feel tired. If so, then there could be another reason for this as there are many reasons for tiredness.

If you know why you’re feeling tired, you’ve had too many late nights or been working too hard then that’s fine and it’s normal and you know what you need to do about it, however, if you’re unsure then have a look at some of these possible explanations for why you could be feeling so drained and what you can do to feel re-energized again. Learn top secrets for getting a good night’s sleep.

Lack of Sleep

A lack of sleep may seem an obvious reason for feeling tired, yet so many of us are still not getting enough of it. If you struggle to fit in seven hours of sleep, then you should make an effort to maintain a consistent sleep routine by going to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning — even on the weekends. Avoid naps as this reduces the amount of sleep that we require the following night, which might lead to difficulty getting to sleep and fragmented sleep and ensure that your bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature. 

Medical Conditions

If you have made lifestyle changes to do with your physical activity, diet, stress levels, and sleep but still feel tired all the time, there could be an underlying medical condition such as anemia, diabetes, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, urinary tract infection or an underactive thyroid which you can learn more about here. If you’re suffering from any of these, they can make you feel really tired, so it’s a good idea to see a medical professional as soon as you can. 

Poor Diet

The easiest way to get rid of tiredness is to make adjustments to your diet and start eating a healthy and balanced diet to get all the nutrients you need. You need to make sure you are getting enough of and a good balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, ensure whole grains make up half the grains you consume and cut down on sugar as this can give you a quick rush of energy, but it wears off fast and might make you feel more tired. 

Not Being Active Enough

When tiredness sets in, sitting on the couch and relaxing might feel like the best option, however getting up and moving is actually the best thing you can do to re-energize yourself. If you haven’t exercised for a while, start slowly and begin with a brisk 10-minute walk each day and build up to walking fast for 30 minutes on five days a week.

Too Much Stress

Work, financial problems, relationship issues, major life events, and upheavals such as moving house, unemployment, and bereavement can all lead to excessive stress and then physical and emotional exhaustion. A little stress can be healthy and may actually make you more alert and able to perform better in tasks, but too much is not good. Physical activity is a really good stress reliever, so if you are feeling stress build-up, go for a walk or even just put on some music and dance around the room.