4 Surprising Reasons You’re Always Exhausted
If you wake up in the morning and immediately think about how nice it’s going to be to get back in bed that night– you’re clearly exhausted.
And it’s not just physical exhaustion; you’re also mentally and emotionally drained.
A lack of sleep is the easiest way to explain your exhaustion. And for many professional women, that may be true. If you’re a working mom with a hectic schedule, you have a snoring spouse, or if there are a million things on your mind when you lay in bed at night, you might not be getting adequate sleep, which absolutely leads to exhaustion.
However, there’s more than just your sleep schedule to consider. Your energy is actually dependent upon many things going on in your life, and a lack of sleep isn’t the only factor. There is a bigger picture to take into consideration, and some of them might surprise you.
4 Surprising Reasons You’re Always Exhausted:
You don’t take enough breaks in your hectic schedule. In both your personal and professional life, you might be racing from one thing to the next. During working hours, you’re probably trying to work as quickly and efficiently as possible so you can get it all done before the workday ends. As a result, you rarely leave your office throughout the day, your eyes stay glued to your computer screen, and you probably eat meals at your desk. Your constant focus on work and not taking enough breaks is probably exhausting you. Instead, try Robin Sharma’s 60/10 Method, which involves setting a timer for 60 minutes of deep, focused, distraction free-work, followed by 10 minutes of recovery with a “pristine” break like taking a walk outside or listening to music. Additionally, make an intentional decision to never eat a meal at your desk. This automatically clears your brain fog, refreshes your focus, and reinvigorates your energy.
Social media is draining your mental energy. Notice how your energy is affected when you scroll on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. Your energy might be up when you first pick up your phone, but as you continue scrolling and scrolling, an hour will go by without you even noticing, and you’re glued to the couch with no intention of getting up. Stop scrolling mindlessly! Instead, feed your mind with content that is uplifting, educational, positive, or truly entertaining. Rather than participating in the mind-numbing scroll on social media, choose to listen to an educational podcast or an audiobook with a captivating story. Make a conscious decision to avoid the mental exhaustion that comes from social media.
You’re not moving your body enough. Any exercise or physical activity that gets your heart rate up or blood flowing is going to raise your energy levels. If you’ve found that you just “don’t have time” to exercise, staying still only makes you more exhausted. Exercise also improves the quality of your sleep, allowing you to get some peaceful shut-eye that will help you wake up feeling refreshed, rather than exhausted. Prioritize moving your body at least once daily. If you don’t have time to drive to the gym or attend an hour-long workout class, no problem– simply go for a 20-minute walk, do some stretching, or ride your bike around the neighborhood.
You seek external validation, rather than self-appreciation. If you’re the kind of person who often seeks approval from others or tries to get external validation, just notice how utterly exhausting that can be. Build up your confidence, girl! If you feel good about yourself, you’ll have less of a desire to seek approval from others. Do things that bring you joy, even the things you haven’t done in years. Do things that make you feel like a badass. Are YOU happy with yourself? Do YOU love who you are being and what you are doing? When you start answering, “yes” to these questions, you have self-approval, which is both energizing and exciting.
No more ending your workday feeling absolutely exhausted… it’s time to gain back that energy, reclaim your power, and learn concrete strategies for improving your energy on a daily basis!
