4 Surprising Reasons You’re Tired All the Time

“Why am I so exhausted?” 

At some point, we’ve all asked ourselves this question. The sad truth is: feeling tired all the time is normal for many of us. While we assume the reason is not getting enough shut-eye, that’s not always the case.

In fact, there are many contributing factors – many of which may surprise you:

Food sensitivities

Some of the most common food sensitivities are gluten, soy, eggs, and dairy. These not only lead to digestive problems, but low energy as well. Pay attention to which foods make you feel sleepy after eating them.

Along with fatigue, symptoms of food allergies include abdominal pain, hives, itching, and in severe cases, swelling of the lips, tongue or other parts of the body. If you think what you’re eating may be the cause of your fatigue, you may want to see a doctor and take an allergy test. 

Too much screen time 

How many hours are you looking at a screen each day? In today’s digital culture, most of us spend the majority of our waking life staring at our computers, phones, and TV.

The problem with too much screen time is the blue light. This is what blocks the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Here are some lifestyle changes to help protect yourself from blue light:

• Don’t look at your screens two to three hours before you go to bed
• Use red lights for night lights. Unlike blue light, the color red has a calming and sleep-inducing effect on the body.
• Wear blue light blocking glasses
• Take in as much natural bright light as you can throughout the day. This will improve your ability to fall (and stay) asleep later.

Sitting too much

Living a sedentary lifestyle causes a long list of health problems, including chronic fatigue. 

Studies show inactivity breeds fatigue in the same way that activity breeds energy. So, if you want an energy boost, get moving. One of the most effective ways to combat fatigue is exercising on a regular basis. It naturally energizes the mind and body. Look into virtual personal training, which can be done from home.

Magnesium deficit

To sleep well, your body needs to unwind. Magnesium plays an important role in the regulation of melatonin, which impacts your ability to get a good night’s rest.  

Want to incorporate more of this mineral in your diet? Whole grains, legumes, avocados, nuts and seeds are all great, natural sources of magnesium.

Take Back Control of Your Health with Simple Lifestyle Changes

If you’re tired all the time, start by looking at your lifestyle. Could your diet be improved? Perhaps you need to exercise more or use technology less? Once you’ve uncovered the reason why you’re tired all the time, you can take the steps you need to feel healthier and happier!