Do you reach for coffee first thing in the morning just so you get some energy for the day? If you have ever described yourself as tired, fatigued, drained or exhausted and haven’t figured out why, please keep reading. So many women come to me (of all ages and stages of life) and complain that they just don’t have the energy to do things they love anymore. Worse yet, they have a strong sense of guilt and shame because they feel that their fatigue is getting in the way of the happiness of their children and partner or spouse. It leaves them wondering why they are so tired. Here are my top 3 reasons you might be tired and what to do about it.
Lack of Sleep
I know it seems like a given, like duh, that sleep might have something to do with why you are so tired. The problem with this is the concept of getting more sleep seems easy, but it is often difficult. It not only requires a change in habit but often a change in neurochemistry. When we talk about changing bedtime routines or habits, it is referred to as sleep hygiene. Some things to consider with sleep hygiene are going to bed at the same time every night, waking up at the same time every morning. Skipping a sugary snack before bed in lieu of a protein snack. Ditching all electronics at least 2 hours before bed, making sure that your room is dark (no beeping, flashing or any lights) and making sure the room is cool.
Imbalanced Blood Sugar
Many people don’t realize the impact that blood sugar balance has on mood and energy. If you are feeling fatigued the first thing to do is to have a quick protein snack. This will help you balance those blood sugars and regain some energy. More importantly though is to make sure that you never reach a hypoglycemic state. That’s when your blood sugar spikes and plummets making you feel anxious, depressed and fatigued. Also, if you eat a sugary or carb loaded snack before bed you will likely have a blood sugar fall in the middle of the night. That’s when adrenaline will kick in and wake you up in the middle of the night. Eating protein every 2-4 hours will help you rebalance your blood sugar all day to avoid feeling fatigued.
Imbalanced Cortisol
Cortisol is your stress hormone and when that is imbalanced you can feel all kinds of things and one is fatigue or lack of energy. When you are chronically stressed, which most of us are, you will likely feel the impact in your adrenals. Over time, when stress has gone unchecked your cortisol will become imbalanced causing you to feel tired and sometimes wired at the same time. You might feel sluggish all day but when you lay your head down to sleep you are wide awake. Cortisol is very frustrating which is why it is important to not only manage your stress but also to fuel your adrenals with proper vitamins and nutrients. I suggest Pro Recovery RX product called balance or in more severe cases of cortisol dysfunction try Teal Label.
If you are feeling tired, lack of energy, no focus and overall fatigued it is important to rule out any health related medical problems. Once those have been ruled out, then make sure you focus on a holistic solution to help you feel energetic and alert once more.