It’s time for more tips on how to combat tiredness!

There’s such a thing as too much caffeine?

Many people turn to coffee or an energy drink when they need a quick boost, but these drinks contain high levels of caffeine which may also be high in sugar. They give you a temporary energy boost, but this will be short-lived and often followed by a drastic drop in energy levels. Too much caffeine can also make you irritable, disturb your sleep and increase your blood pressure.

Switch up your go to energy boosters! One coffee per day may not hurt, but if you have found yourself depending on them to get you through the day, you might wish to try some other energy boosting tips instead (and switching to decaf if it’s the taste that you love!). For example try introducing a nutritious breakfast like porridge and a banana, or egg on toast, or even swap out a few coffees for a herbal tea. Remember, if you have been depending on caffeine for a while, it might take you some time to cut down on it, but persistence will pay off.

Over exercising

Exercise in moderation can do wonders for our mental and physical health, but time to rest and recover is just as important.  It gives your body a chance to recover and repair, especially if your exercise plan is particularly vigorous.

Take a break! One way to judge whether you need to take a break is to take your pulse first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If it’s more than 5 beats above normal the morning after you have exercised, it’s advised that you take the day off to relax and recover.

Poor posture

When our joints aren’t aligned properly, the whole body has to work harder to compensate. Modern lifestyles have meant that we are spending more time sitting at desks and cradling our phones, and it isn’t just the added screen time that is making us feel the strain. Poor posture places extra pressure on our back and hips, which makes us feel more tired and achy.

Practice good posture! One way to check your posture is to check whether your head is lined up over your body, ears directly in line with your shoulders – not sticking out in front of them. More tips on posture and desk-based exercises can be found here.

Changes in your diet

For some of us, there is the constant temptation to reach for snacks, whilst others may be crash dieting before a last-minute holiday. Drastic changes in your diet, whether it’s junk food overload, or depriving your body of the nutrients it needs, can be detrimental to your health and make you feel even more tired. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself once in a while but overdoing it or underdoing it for too long might leave you feeling stuck in a lethargic cycle.

Fill up on healthy choices! If you’re trying to lose weight, make sure you are doing it in a healthy way by ensuring that your body is still getting the nutrients and calories it needs to remain healthy. Alternatively, if you are finding yourself reaching for unhealthy options a bit too often, and this is beginning to have an impact on your energy, you could try to stick to healthier alternatives to your favourite snacks. With a bit of searching, nutrition alternatives can be found for most tasty treats. With a bit of will-power, it won’t be long before you start to see a change in your energy levels.

Inconsistent sleep patterns

Your body’s internal clock craves consistency, so if you stay up late every weekend, you might be giving yourself ‘jet lag’ without even realising. An erratic sleep schedule can produce a ‘hangover effect’, causing us to feel foggy long after we wake up.

Keep a regular sleep schedule! It’s easier said than done sometimes, and there will always be times when we have a later night or a lovely long lie in, but establishing a regular bedtime and wake-up time will help to regulate your sleep pattern and help you feel less tired day-to-day.