#44 Why am I always tired?
Chronic tiredness, feeling burnt-out and depleted is almost like another pandemic It is actually scary to think of how many of us are walking around feeling like no matter how much sleep we get, still end up feeling tired & unmotivated. How are we even meant to pull it all together and be a functioning human when many of us are walking around feeling like there’s no cure to our tiredness?
Well, if this is you, I firstly hope you find some compassion in knowing that as it turns out you are not alone. Did you know that feeling more energised and less tired is probably the most common FITNESS GOAL that motivates people to change their habits. More than wanting to lose weight or anything else collectively.
As it turns out feeling tired or fatigued is a common complaint among many people. Our energy and time are limited ressources just like money. And with the speed in todays society it is becoming more important to know how to protect that energy.
Today, I wanted to start this conversation with you exploring some of the possible causes of fatigue and leave you as always with some actionable tips on how you can start to audit your life to regain your energy.
The science bit:
Tiredness and Fatigue is defined as the feeling of constant tiredness or weakness and it can be physical, mental or a combination of both. It can affect anyone, and most adults will experience fatigue at some point in their life. It is imporant to note that fatigue and tiredness is a symptom, not a condition.
The complicated thing is that it can be caused by a variety of factors, including medical conditions, lifestyle habits, routines / structure and psychological factors.
Allthough it can be dangerous to ask DR GOOGLE about your symtoms, it is important to note that some common medical conditions that can cause fatigue include anemia, thyroid problems, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Anemia, a condition where there aren't enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body's tissues, can cause fatigue due to a lack of oxygen in the body. Thyroid problems can also cause fatigue, as the thyroid gland is responsible for regulating metabolism and energy levels. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder in our hormonal system characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any other underlying medical condition. With this in mind, if the following adjustments to lifestyle and mindset are NOT giving you a boost in the right direction with your tiredness, it might be your sign to speak with your doctor or get a biomarker test to rule out any of these ( check out episode #39 on BIOMARKERS and motivation)
Lifestyle habits can also contribute to fatigue. Lack of sleep, poor diet, and sedentary behavior can all cause fatigue. Not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling tired and sluggish throughout the day. A poor diet lacking in essential nutrients like iron, protein, and B vitamins can also contribute to fatigue. Sedentary behavior, or lack of physical activity, can cause a decrease in energy levels and contribute to fatigue.
Lack of habits, structure and routine is also commonly contributing to zapping energy from us, when we have to think every day to invent the wheel - spend 30 min changing outfits and shoes in the morning and another 30 min deciding what we might want for lunch and debating weather we are going to go to the gym today from lunch until the end of the work day are a few of the examples of decisions that can be made easier to give us back some energy in our days.
Psychological and mindset factors often play a massive role in fatigue. When we are using our brain, and cognative ressources not effectevly it can be super draining. So regardless if you are battling a mental illness like depression, anxiety, and stress OR if you are currently in a season of your life where you are overthinking, not feeling aligned with your authentic self and/ or struggling with your next steps it can all cause fatigue. As we have all experienced, these high cognitive loads and just being “in our heads alot” can lead to a decrease in energy levels and difficulty concentrating, making it harder to complete everyday tasks.
What to do?
Bottomline is this, your fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors, including medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and psychological factors.
If you're feeling tired or fatigued, it's important to take a step back and reflect. Before you are able to start making positive changes to your lifestyle its important to know what you are going to change so that you don’t end up spending more of your precious energy.
So take a moment to reflect on your habits and ask yourself why you might be feeling this way. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you engaging in physical activity? Are you managing stress? Do you find yourself in a rut with your thoughts or stuck in thinking circles? Is there anything you can do to simplify the thinking in your daily routines and habits?
If you want to join my FREE 7 day course where I help people do a LIFE AUDIT and start finding energy in little pockets of activites spread through out the day, then make sure to sign up for my newsletter and you can get started TODAY to make those moves to an ENERGIZED you.
Keep on taking steps toward your physical & mental health.
Remember, I am ALWAYS rooting for you.
All the best Coach Eik
