Why Am I So Tired All the Time Even When I Get Enough Sleep?

So whats going on?

Are we all actually that tired all the time?

Have we just stopped sleeping?

Here are some reasons why that might be happening.

Whats sapping my energy and what can I do about it?

The most common energy-zapping culprits are poor quality sleep, high stress, and a bad diet.

Thankfully these are all mostly temporary, fixable problems.

Tiredness or fatigue, however, could also be a symptom of a more serious issue.

What is your sleepreallylike?

The first thing to do is see to it youre actually sleeping both soundly and long enough.

(In fact, too much sleep canlead to tiredness and other problemsjust as too little sleep might).

Your ideal amount of sleep alsochanges as you get older.

Finally, its not just how much shut-eye you get but also howwellyou sleepthe quality of your sleepthat matters.

to ensure a better nights sleep.

Also, maintain your sleep schedule every day (yes,even on the weekends).

If poor sleep isnt your problem, the next thing to look at is your diet.

Thefoods you eatmake you more or less productive and energized, since theyre really the fuel for your brain.

Eggs and oranges, for example, are more likely to sustain you than crackers and croissants.

There was no relationship between protein consumption and sleepiness or alertness.

Similarly, other studies suggest you shouldeat more natural, unprocessed carbs, even at breakfast.

Depression alsomesses with your sleep cycleand the quality of your sleep.

Along the same lines, constant fatigue is alsoa symptom of generalized anxiety disorder.

Also, being constantly in fight-or-flight mode is exhausting and uses up a lot of energy.

If youre burned out, stressed, or even bored, your energy level can drop.

(Even if theyre not,getting a regular physical is a good idea.)

Besides lifestyle factors, fatigue can be a sign of a medical issue.

Even allergies, vitamin D deficiency, or the medications youre taking could be making you tired.

The NIH says:

The pattern of fatigue may help your doctor determine its cause.

If all of this has you worried, dont fret.

The NIH also says that fatigue is a common symptom and usually not due to a serious disease.