You feel exhausted despite getting enough sleep or often struggle to get through the day without yawning all afternoon. You don’t know what you’re doing wrong and how you’re losing energy.
A YouGov survey has shown that 13 percent of us feel tired all the time, and 33 percent of people say they feel exhausted for half of the day.
Lack of energy can make it difficult to focus and be productive. These everyday habits can unintentionally leave you drained of energy.
Consuming too many carbohydrates
What you eat has a significant impact on your energy levels, and carbohydrates are not your allies.
“While we crave sweet food when we lack energy, it quickly raises blood sugar levels and triggers the release of insulin hormone. This pushes glucose into muscle and fat cells, resulting in fatigue, which is usually worse a few hours after a meal. That’s why you may feel sleepy after a carbohydrate-rich lunch,” says nutritionist Sarah Brewer.
Drinking too much coffee
Caffeine might give you a quick energy boost, but too much of it can drain you.
“Caffeine blocks the calming adenosine in the brain, which is also involved in energy production, so an excess of caffeine makes you feel exhausted faster,” Brewer says.
Caffeine is buffered by its saponin (natural compounds), so it is absorbed slower to provide a longer-lasting energy boost.
Drinking wine every night
Pouring yourself a glass or two of wine every evening with dinner? It might help you relax at that moment, but it can leave you tired the next day.
“Too much alcohol at night affects how you sleep. While you may fall asleep faster, you’re likely to wake up during the night, making it difficult to fall back asleep. Alcohol also reduces the quality of your sleep, so you won’t wake up as refreshed as usual,” she explains.
Spending time with negative people
“Pessimistic people bring you down because their negative focus on events can amplify any stress in your own life and leave you feeling emotionally drained, tired, and dissatisfied,” she says.
According to psychologists, a negative relationship can impact your well-being and energy levels four to seven times more than the opposite effects of a positive relationship.
Spending too much time indoors
If you spend your entire day at a desk or hours indoors, it can leave you feeling lethargic.
“Natural light has a beneficial effect on your circadian rhythms (rhythmic cycles within the body), sleep-wake cycles, and thyroid function. It suppresses the secretion of melatonin (the sleep hormone), making you feel more energetic and alert,” she says.
Additionally, sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D.
