Ever feel like you’re walking around in a fog, fighting to stay awake even after a full night’s sleep?
It’s like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of exhaustion, and no amount of caffeine or rest seems to help.
Well, here’s something to consider…
While life can get busy and overwhelming, sometimes the root of our tiredness lies in our daily habits—many of which we might not even realize are contributing to our exhaustion.
In this article, we’ll uncover eight daily habits that could be sapping your energy without you even knowing it.
Drawing insights from psychological experts, we’ll explore how these seemingly harmless routines or choices can lead to a chronic sense of tiredness.
So, if you’re ready to break the cycle of fatigue, let’s dive in and discover what might be draining your energy!
1) Skipping breakfast
Ever heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”?
Turns out, there’s some truth to it.
According to psychology, starting your day without fueling your body can lead to tiredness.
This is because when you sleep, your body uses up its energy stores.
So by skipping breakfast, you’re essentially running on empty until lunch.
So, if you’re always feeling tired, take a look at your morning routine.
Are you rushing out the door without eating? If so, it might be time to rethink your breakfast habits.
A balanced breakfast can kickstart your metabolism and give you the energy needed for the day ahead.
Isn’t that worth getting up a few minutes earlier for?
2) Staying glued to screens
As someone who spends a good deal of time working on a computer, I can tell you firsthand the toll screen time takes on your energy levels.
Psychology confirms that staring at screens all day can be a real energy-zapper.
The blue light emitted by screens can mess with your sleep cycle and cause eye strain, both leading to feelings of fatigue.
I recall a period when I was feeling particularly drained.
I was working long hours, and my eyes were constantly glued to my laptop or phone screen.
After speaking with a health professional, I realized my excessive screen time was likely playing a part in my tiredness.
So I made an effort to limit my screen time, especially before bed.
I swapped scrolling through social media for reading a book, and let me tell you, the difference was incredible.
If you’re always tired and spend a lot of your day in front of screens, it might be worth giving them a break and seeing if it makes a difference to your energy levels, too!
3) Lack of physical activity
Here’s a surprising one. Not moving enough throughout the day can actually make you feel more tired.
It might seem counterintuitive but, staying sedentary for long periods can lead to feelings of fatigue and lethargy.
Our bodies are designed to move.
Regular physical activity helps increase blood flow and oxygen to your brain, which can help boost your energy levels.
Even if you have a desk job, there are ways to incorporate more movement into your day:
- Stand up and stretch every hour
- Take a walk during your lunch break
- Do some light exercises in the evening
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
Meeting these guidelines can help you maintain a healthy energy level.
4) Living in the future or past
One of the core teachings in Buddhism is mindfulness, a practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment.
When we’re constantly thinking about what’s next or dwelling on the past, we’re not really living in the present.
This constant mental chatter can wear us down, leaving us feeling tired and drained.
In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve into this concept more deeply.
I explain how cultivating mindfulness can help alleviate emotional exhaustion and increase energy levels.
By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to quiet your mind and focus on the present moment.
This can result in a more peaceful mind, helping to reduce feelings of fatigue.
5) Neglecting hydration
There was a time when I thought I was doing everything right.
I was eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. But I still felt tired all the time.
After some introspection, I realized I was missing a crucial element – water.
I wasn’t drinking enough of it.
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water.
Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to function properly.
When your body is dehydrated, it has to work harder to carry out these functions, which can lead to feelings of tiredness.
So, I made a conscious effort to drink more water throughout the day.
And guess what? My energy levels improved significantly.
Bottom line?
Don’t overlook the power of hydration when it comes to combating fatigue.
Make an effort to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and it could make a big difference in how you feel.
6) Oversleeping
Here’s one that might surprise you. Oversleeping can actually make you feel more tired.
You’d think the more sleep, the better, right? Well, not always.
Sleeping too much can disrupt your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, also known as your circadian rhythm.
This disruption can leave you feeling groggy and lethargic during the day.
The key is to find your sleep sweet spot.
For most adults, that’s between 7 to 9 hours a night.
Regularly sleeping more than that could be the reason you’re always feeling tired.
So pay attention to your sleep patterns.
If you’re hitting the snooze button for an extra couple hours of sleep each morning and still feeling tired, it might be time to reassess your sleep schedule.
7) Eating too much sugar
If you’re reaching for a sugary snack every time you hit an afternoon slump, you might want to rethink that habit.
While sugar can give you a quick energy boost, it’s often followed by a crash, leaving you feeling even more tired than before.
This is because sugar causes a spike in your blood glucose levels, which your body responds to by releasing insulin.
This process can lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, resulting in that all-too-familiar energy crash.
So what should you do when your sugar cravings hit?
Reach for a protein-packed snack or some fresh fruit instead of that candy bar.
These healthy snacks will provide you with a much more sustainable energy source!
8) Ignoring stress
Finally, constant stress can take a serious toll on your energy levels.
When you’re stressed, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode, releasing adrenaline and cortisol.
Over time, this can leave you feeling exhausted.
That’s why it’s crucial to find healthy ways to manage stress.
This might involve deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, or simply taking time each day to do something you enjoy.
Know that ignoring stress won’t make it go away.
In fact, it could make you feel even more tired.
So don’t overlook the impact stress can have on your energy levels and find healthy ways to manage it.
Final thoughts: It could be habitual
Feeling tired all the time can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re unsure why it’s happening.
But by taking a closer look at your daily habits, you can identify which ones might be contributing to your exhaustion.
By identifying and altering your energy-draining habits, you could potentially transform your day-to-day life, trading in constant fatigue for a replenished energy reservoir.
In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I explore how aligning our actions with mindfulness can lead to remarkable changes in our energy levels and overall well-being.
Whether it’s prioritizing hydration, moving more, managing stress, or establishing a sleep routine that works for you, the underlying habits might be the key to unlocking your full energy potential.
You have the power to break the cycle of constant fatigue.
So why not start today?
