Reasons for Feeling Tired and How to Have More Energy

Feeling tired is becoming a global problem. But what are the reasons for feeling tired? There’s plenty of them – and some you may not fully be aware of being a problem.

You wake up tired, you go to bed tired. You feel like a broken record constantly saying or thinking, “I’m tired.” And you just can’t seem to shake it.

It also impacts the rest of your life. Maybe you feel grumpy from the exhaustion. Or you find you just don’t have the energy to do… well, anything. Sure, you have goals. But those goals are miles away. You can’t muster up the energy to push forward toward them. Your relationships may even suffer.

Surprisingly, 37% of the general population suffers from fatigue and feeling tired. In a study conducted in 13 countries, individuals living in the United Kingdom came up on top for being the most exhausted. Ireland, Canada, and the USA weren’t far behind either.

So what are the reasons for feeling tired?

Let’s take a look!

Reason #1: Poor Sleep Quality and Quantity

Society plays into the work hard, play hard mentality. You’re told to be a go-getter. This frequently involves doing more to go after what you want – which is all fine and dandy unless it is impacting your sleep.

If you’re working long hours and cutting your sleep hours down, you aren’t doing yourself a favour. You’re likely just setting yourself back.

You need sleep. Sleep is necessary for memory and learning. Your body uses sleep to repair and rejuvenate. Without it, your cognitive functioning significantly declines (as you probably know if you’re reading this article). Thus, you need to make it a priority. Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep per night for the average adult.

But what if you try and try – yet – you just don’t sleep well? Sleep quality is up there as one of the top reasons for feeling tired.

You go to bed at a decent time. But you toss and turn all night. Or you wake up feeling like you barely slept. It’s not a good feeling.

Two-thirds of the population claim that they have sleeping problems. So what sleep problems are ailing you and giving you reasons for feeling tired?

There’s insomnia, sleep apnea, teeth-grinding, and more. You may not sleep well because you’re stressed out or you have a lot going on in your personal life. The reasons for feeling tired from poor sleep quality are endless. You may have an injury that keeps you awake. Or perhaps you have chronic pain that bothers you and prevents you from a restful night.

Finding out why is important. Most of the time, a visit to your doctor can help determine the reasons behind your low sleep quality. And don’t worry – we’ll offer some useful tips below to help you sleep better and have more energy.

Reason #2: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Across the globe, 17-24 million people have chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome is defined by feelings of extreme exhaustion and fatigue. Scientists aren’t even entirely sure what causes it. And it’s only recently that it’s been accepted in the medical community as a real disorder.

Researchers suggest chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by stress, hormonal imbalances, a suppressed immune system, or from certain viruses.

The symptoms are exactly as you would think. And yes, it could potentially be one of many reasons for feeling tired. With chronic fatigue syndrome, you feel tired all the time. You may get headaches, muscle pain, lack concentration, have a poor memory, and more.

Reason #3: Adrenal Fatigue

Feeling tired is a major symptom of adrenal fatigue. It’s often accompanied by body aches, possibly weight loss, low blood pressure, body hair loss, skin discolouration, and feeling lightheaded.

So what happens with adrenal fatigue? Basically, you’re stressed out. Your body is in a constant state of ‘fight or flight.’ In other words, your body perceives a threat and your adrenal glands are working overtime, pumping out stress hormones. But your adrenal glands can’t keep up with the constant stimuli. And that’s when you ultimately hit a wall of fatigue and exhaustion. It sometimes leads to serious burnout.

What are your reasons for feeling tired? If you’re working overtime and are constantly in a stressed state, this might be your main problem.  

Reason #4: Nutritional Deficiencies

An iron deficiency causing fatigue isn’t unheard of. Iron makes up the part of the red blood cells called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout your body. Without iron, your body can’t carry as much oxygen to the places that need it. This means your body can’t make the energy it needs to keep up with demands. Consequently, you feel constant exhaustion. In addition, vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium, and folic acid deficiencies can also cause you to feel tired.

So why do nutritional deficiencies happen? Eating the incorrect types of food or not eating enough is sometimes the issue. The other side is that the nutrients aren’t being absorbed by your body properly. In this case, an underlying illness or disorder may be to blame. If you suspect your reasons for feeling tired come down to a nutritional issue, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your doctor. They can help you get to the bottom of it.

Reason #5: Leaky Gut Syndrome

You probably didn’t see this one coming! Surprisingly, leaky gut syndrome may make you feel tired. Your gut and your energy levels are closely linked – which we briefly explored above with reason #4.

Leaky gut syndrome is categorized as increased intestinal permeability. As a result, molecules – good or bad – enter the bloodstream. It causes an immune response. And problems arise when your immune system becomes either hypersensitive, or you begin experiencing auto-immune responses. It’s no wonder why excessive fatigue is one of the main symptoms. Your energy is being used up elsewhere.

Other symptoms of leaky gut syndrome that you may experience include bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, skin issues, joint pain, memory loss, and even more so, nutritional deficiencies (which may even further your feelings of fatigue).

How to Have More Energy

First and foremost: If sleep is a serious issue, book an appointment with your family doctor. The reasons for feeling tired above aren’t the only reasons. Get a proper check-up, and get your symptoms looked at by a professional.

With that said, how can you have more energy? Here are our top tips:

• Get an adequate amount of sleep each night
• Ensure your sleep environment is good: cool, dark room with no electronics is best.
• Exercise regularly and eat well. Stay hydrated too!
• Find a balance in your life between work, social, family, and me-time. It is possible!

Finally, consider using our free course, Leaky Gut Protocol, to aid you in healing your gut problems and to restore your sleep.

Have more energy to do what you want to do with the rest of your life!