8 reasons why you are always tired

‘I am so tired, it feels like I have a hangover, *yawn*, I think I have barely slept last night’ is just a small selection of what was dropped at our editorial office yesterday. Blame it on the Monday blues or a delayed King's Day hangover is what I thought first, but even today there is still stretching and yawning going on. Why are we so tired, guys? I did the checklist and have felt more tired than ever since.

1. Exercising?

Not today.

Skipping your workout to save energy actually works against you. A study from the University of Georgia shows that adults who exercise lightly three days a week (twenty minutes seems to be enough) feel less tired and much more energetic after six weeks.

Mmm, there goes my ‘I had a busy day, I’m crashing on the couch’-excuse… Next one?

2. You drink too little water

Even if you are only slightly dehydrated, it costs a lot of energy. Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume, making the blood thicker. This means your heart pumps less efficiently and the speed of oxygen and nutrients (that your muscles and organs need) decreases.

Damn, I haven't drunk anything today. I'm going to make tea now. Or no, drink a glass of water, tea needs to cool down first, I'm as dry as a cactus. 

3. Iron deficiency

An iron deficiency can make you slow, irritable, and weak. It makes you tired because less oxygen goes to the muscles and cells. Vitamin C is what you need.

Slow? Irritable? Weak? I think I have an iron deficiency, guys, gather all the tofu, leafy greens, nuts, and peanut butter jars. 

4. You are a perfectionist

You set goals that are sometimes so unrealistic that they are far too difficult or even impossible to achieve, resulting in very little sense of self-satisfaction. Set a time limit for yourself and stick to it. Over time, you will realize that that extra time you took was secretly a small lost cause.

No way, I'm also super perfectionistic. Lil, just take it easy and grab that time limit with both hands. 

5. You skip breakfast

Skipping breakfast is a no go. The food you eat fuels your body. While you sleep, your body continues to use what you consumed the night before. So when you wake up in the morning, you need to replenish it with breakfast. If you skip it, you will feel slow slow slow.

Nooo, I never have breakfast either. I suddenly feel hopelessly tired. 

6 Caffeine junkie

Starting your day with a good cup of coffee is totally fine. A study has even shown that three regular cups of coffee are ‘good’ for you. But if you use too much caffeine, it can disrupt your sleep cycle.

1-5 for me, I drink a good cup of coffee in the morning. Everything under control. 

7. You go to bed too late on weekends

Often have trouble getting up on Monday mornings? Staying up late on Saturday night and then sleeping in on Sunday morning can lead to problems, especially not being able to fall asleep on Sunday night as the culprit.

Oooh, the worst. Who else can never fall asleep on Sunday night?

8. You make a mountain out of a molehill

If you standardly come up with ten different scenarios in every possible situation for yourself, this can mentally (!) exhaust you.

Mentally exhausting? This is totally getting out of hand. It's 1-7 for me. Good night, I'm going to turn over one more time. No no no, I'm of course going to prepare a healthy breakfast (including lots of water, peanut butter, and nuts) for myself, to then jog to the office instead of getting stuck in traffic. Energy for ten. 

Credits: Marie Claire