Why Do I Feel Tired Throughout the Day?
Do you often feel like you are overly tired throughout the day? There could be several reasons for this, and you need to make sure that you address them so you can get the rest that you need. While it is natural to get a little tired towards the end of the day, it is not natural to feel tired throughout the entire day. Here are some of the reasons why you might feel a little too tired throughout the day.
Lack of Sleep
The most obvious reason as to why you might feel a little too tired throughout the day is that you had a bad night’s sleep the night before. Fatigue and sleep deprivation can hit us harder than we might imagine. You might think that you have managed to get enough sleep, but the reality is that you are not getting a good quality of rest, and this will contribute to your overall exhaustion.
We need to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.
The recommendation of 8 hours is a good starting point, but some people need a little more, others a little less. It is better to work out how much you need and go from there.
You should also look at the quality of your sleep. If you feel like you toss and turn all night or that you can lie for hours awake in the dark, you are going to feel the effects later. Taking steps to improve your sleep, possibly with the help of a sleep science app or some changes to your evening routine, could make all the difference in how tired you feel throughout the day. Get a better night’s sleep overall, and you should wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the new day.
Not Enough Food
We need food to power our days. If you feel like you are overly tired, it might be because you are not consuming enough calories to keep moving forward. After all, a calorie is a unit of energy. You need to make sure that you are eating enough to have the energy to do whatever your day needs from you.
Different people will require different amounts of food. As a rule, men usually need to eat more calories than women to feel full and able to take on their goals. However, there are some who might need a little more still. If you have a particularly physical job, such as if you are in the emergency services or an athlete of some sort, you will often find that you need to eat more so you have the energy to be able to complete the tasks that you might have to undertake each day. Starting the day with a good breakfast and then continuing with other meals and snacks should provide you with the energy that you need to get through your day.
The Right Quality of Food
Eating enough food is only half the equation here – you also need to make sure that you are eating the right quality of food too. There are certain foods that will be better for you nutritionally and will help to deliver energy to your body in just the right way.
Let’s go back to the idea of a good breakfast to start your day with. You need to pick something that is packed with energy that will be released slowly throughout the morning, especially if you know that you are not going to be able to eat again until much later in the day. For this reason, oats are a great option. You could have a good bowl of porridge, or you could try making overnight oats.
Both are fantastic options that will break your fast and should provide you with energy throughout the day.
Try to avoid junk food and anything with too much sugar. Sugary foods are good in a pinch if you need something that is going to pick you up and get you through the next little bit. However, too much sugar could cause a crash a little while later and could leave you feeling worse than before. Try to stick to food that is of a good nutritional value – it will be much better for you throughout the day. Foods that are high in tryptophan, such as turkey and cheese, may also cause fatigue after eating. This is because it helps serotonin, a neurotransmitter that induces sleep.
Too Much Time with Screens
You might spend all of your time at work glued to a computer monitor, only to browse social media for your entire commute home, then to sit down in front of the TV all evening. This will result in too much time on your screens and could lead to eye strain and other issues.
If your eyes are a little bit strained, you could very well feel like you are tired because of it. It might be a good idea to invest in some eyedrops and practice a few little exercises to help your eyes refocus and calm a little if you can’t step back from the screens.
You should also try to cut down on your screen usage as much as you can. If you stare at your phone during a commute on public transport, consider swapping this out for a podcast or audiobook. You won’t be severing your connection to your phone entirely, but you won’t be looking at the screen. These patterns can also be extended at home. Instead of watching your favorite TV show all evening, think about reading a book or trying some other activity that does not involve a screen.
An Underlying Medical Issue
Of course, it is worth mentioning that you might have a yet undiagnosed medical condition that could be causing your fatigue. While there are many different ones, one of the most common is anemia, usually caused by a lack of iron.
If you feel like you have tried some of the points above and still feel like you are overly tired and fatigued throughout the day, you should think about speaking to your doctor.
They might be able to give you a blood test to find out if you do have some sort of underlying medical condition that could be affecting your energy levels. Even if you are sleeping poorly, they might be able to refer you to a sleep clinic or some other trial where you could get the help you need.
Take Steps to Improve Your Days Now
While it is normal to wake up feeling a little groggy and disorientated, it is not normal for that feeling to continue throughout the day. You need to make sure that you address any issue that might stop you from enjoying your days to the fullest. Make sure that you get the rest you need so you can push forward and take on whatever your day has in store for you to the best of your abilities.
It could be a really simple fix, like the need for a higher quality of food, or it could be something that needs a little more work on your part.
However, you should take the time to address any concerns you might have. Before you know it, you could be getting out of bed fully energized and ready to take on the day!
