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Why am I always tired?

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]As busy Londoners, it is often the case that we feel an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Between working, commuting and family life, it is not surprising that we often feel this way. But what is the difference between exhaustion and tiredness and what can we do about it?

Why do we feel like this?

Often it is a lack of sleep. We all know that sleep is an important factor in our health and wellbeing and a good night’s sleep can really make a difference to how we feel both physically and mentally. If you are not sleeping well, it may be due to a health issue such as anaemia (a lack of iron), depression, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or other hormonal problems, diabetes or even food intolerances. Our weight can also play a significant role in how tired we feel. Being both underweight and overweight can also add to the feeling of lethargy as an underweight person will generally have less muscle strength and an overweight person will put more strain of their bodies physically to perform daily activities.

Am I tired or exhausted?

It is normal to feel tired after a long day of work or running around after children. If after some rest or recuperation you feel back to your normal self, then it is likely that you are just tired. Exhaustion is a much more serious thing (although we do throw the word around a lot). When you are totally drained and find it hard to function and carry out your normal day to day activities, this is when we would start to think that what you are feeling is more than tired.

Now that we know the difference and the causes, is there anything that we can do to prevent this feeling. We all want to feel more energised after all. Below I list five tips you can implement immediately.

Diet – Eat a balanced diet making sure that you eat dark green veg, fresh fruit and more oily fish such as salmon or mackerel. Do you ever feel lethargic after a big meal? Try to eat often and avoid large heavy meals, regular food means regular energy.[/cs_text][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/healthylivingconcept.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]Exercise – Partaking in physical activity will increase your cardiovascular health which in turn will allow more blood and oxygen to get to your body. Exercise also releases many hormones including serotonin, which may not directly give you energy, but will heighten your mood and make you feel more positive and lively.

Sleep – According to the NHS most adults need between six and nine hours sleep and they suggest that by working out what time you wake up, you can set a bedtime that allows you to get the required time. Of course, that is not always possible and different people need different amounts. But by simply moving your bedtime forward an hour, it could make a real difference to how you feel.

Time to relax – Take time to sit and be with your thoughts or meditate, or give yourself a day or evening where you can just relax and recuperate

Fresh air – there is nothing better than a walk outdoors to make you feel awake. Just by doing a 20 minute walk you will not only increase your cardiovascular health and burn a few extra calories, but you’ll also get that fresh air circulating more efficiently around your body. I know it’s hard to do in the UK with the rain, so try to at least get five minutes even if it’s just sitting in the garden.

If you are looking to make meaningful change with your health start to pay attention to all the tips listed above. Follow these points regularly and with time this “always tired” feeling should subside. If the problem persists then a check up at your doctor would be advisable.

Have a restful week,

Nikki[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]