Fatigue is rapidly becoming an epidemic in today’s society. Due to our busy lifestyles people are not getting enough quality sleep at night and as a result are going through life in a fog, constantly wishing they could just lie down and take a nap. Not only is this lifestyle less enjoyable but it can also be detrimental to your health. Being tired has been linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, and decreased immune function. Fatigue is also one of the most common causes of automobile accidents and it will leave you feeling irritable and moody. So for your sake and the sake of those around you it is important to discover what is making you so tired and try to eliminate the source of the problem. Some of the top reasons that people feel tired during the day are:
1) Being Over Caffeinated: One cup of coffee or tea a day is not a bad thing, but once you reach for that second or third cup it begins to start a vicious cycle. The extra caffeine can raise your heart rate and blood pressure and keep you from falling asleep at night. Stay away from caffeinate foods like chocolate and soft drinks, especially in the afternoon and evening.
2) Being a Couch Potato: It seems like an oxymoron that doing nothing can make you feel tired but it is true. Exercise raises your metabolism, burning more calories and giving you more energy and not just the physical kind. Exercise increases the production of dopamine, a mood enhancing hormone. So if you are feeling down the best cure is to get up and doing something. It will give you energy throughout your day and also help you sleep better at night.
3) Being Dehydrated: If you feel like your head is stuck in a fog and you have a dull ache in the base of your skull chances are you are not drinking enough water. Over half of our body is composed of water, and it serves as a medium to control our bodies function. If water levels drop too low your body cannot perform the metabolic functions as it should.
4) Having Poor Posture: Standing up straight not only looks impressive but also has huge health benefits. Poor posture put a tremendous amount of abnormal pressure on the nervous system and the muscles of your body. By not standing or sitting properly you cause your body to work overtime just to keep you in an upright position. Have your spine and posture checked to see if is correct or if you are putting undo stress on your body everyday.
We all have busy lives and many things to accomplish during the day. The best way to get the most out of each day is to have a healthy lifestyle and that starts by getting a good night of sleep. So be sure to catch some ZZZ’s tonight!