Tired of being tired?

We've all had those days and all you can say is, "I'm just tired."
It can be exhausting (pun intended) saying that.

Gone are the days as kid where you just pop up in the morning, are ready to play all day, then sack out for a good eight hours and do it again the next day... BEHOLD! Those days don't have to be gone forever.

A few things can really mess with your energy and sleep. My personal experience and through discussions with others, diet and irregular sleep schedules affect how tired I may or may not be for one or more days following my poor food choice or extra late night.

1. Diet: I don't see this as a fad, all the different diets that are out there. The word "Diet" has a bad wrap. It really is just a certain way you choose to eat. "My diet consists of, blah blah blah." However that feeling you might get after you eat a big bowl of pasta and you just want to nap; yeah, that pasta DID make you sleepy. There are certain foods that will energize you. Change up your eating habits, you don't have to go cold turkey and cut out grains, do what works best for you.  
2. Irregular sleeping schedules: How often do you go to bed and wake up at the same time despite the fact that it's a Friday night? If you often switch up your bed and wake times, you'll be in for a tired week. Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bed, it's tempting you, but don't look at your iPhone, tablet or whatever Smart-object you have, the lighting messes with your brain (the light suppresses sleep-inducing hormone). 

If you're curious of your sleeping pattern, I enjoy the app, Sleep Time, it determines when you're awake and sleeping the deepest and more. It'll wake you up at just the right time so you feel rested during the day. 

Available in the App Store. "Sleep Time"
CC: screenshot

Aaahhh, relax

Do you hit the spa often? Sign up for a massage?

I don’t get to do that enough. It’d be nice with such a hectic schedule.

But, the only benefits of massages aren’t just relaxation and less tense muscles, but there are many health benefits. Massages are great ways to treat sports injuries and arthritis, according to Ellie Krieger.

Those spa massages can help to reduce back pain, lessen insomnia, lessen anxiety and increase the lymph flow, among many many other wonderful results. 

Want more energy? And some feel good endorphins released? Krieger explains these things so well in her newsletters.

 Go get a massage! I mean, how hard is it to lay there and get a massage? I know sometimes, if you’ve gone to get one, it can be pretty intense, yet relaxing. Getting those knots rubbed out of your shoulder area and your neck being massaged is very calming. Just be sure to hydrate your body for the rest of the day and take it easy.

Massages can take a lot out of your body.

There are also a variety of massages you can choose from: Lomi Lomi (Hawaiian Massage techinique), Shiatsu, plus more.

If you’re not familiar with any that are listed, feel free to speak with the massage therapist so you can get the right massage you’re looking for. 

Are you sleepy?

Find yourself yawing all day? Wanting to eat everything in sight? Especially that chocolate bar that's been calling your name...Or even just the thought of sleeping makes you fall asleep standing up? 

These are just a few signs that you may obviously be tired. 

When you slack on sleep, it makes it harder to manage what you eat. You're body is lacking energy and wants you to eat...This can cause some pounds to pack on.  

According to an article in SELF magazine, a study was done that those who had four hours of sleep ate around 500 more calories than if they got eight hours of sleep. 

If you find yourself reaching for more than two cups of coffee, try to think of getting more sleep, or even get on a sleep routine that's normal. Again, always try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. 

Stay strong and skip those little snacks when you get home later, you'll most likely feel better about yourself when you wake up in the morning if you leave that tub of ice cream in the fridge for another day when you aren't tired. 

In this day and age, it is hard to get sleep, it is hard to get seven to eight hours of sleep, if you can try too. But if you can't, try to at least get seven. You may feel more energy. 

Check out this article from the Huffington Post about signs that show you might be skipping sleep.

Tired of being tired?

If you don't NEED coffee, don't get it. 

Sometimes with those awesome movies, and TV shows, making time to hang out with friends, or just finishing up work, it's hard to not feel tired all the time. Even though you've had a good nights rest, you wake up still sleepy and head over to the nearest coffee shop to grab a morning jolt. Plus, it's tough to keep up a daily coffee run, it all adds up! Opt for some tea if you like to have a morning drink, you can easily buy some of your favorite tea's and brew some up in the morning, and save yourself a few dollars.

A few reasons we get tired:

 Irregular sleeping schedule: waking up and going to bed at different times all the time can throw off our bodies. I've read that this type of sleep schedule can make our bodies think it's changing time zones, like when we travel and get jet lag. Solution: Try to get on a normal time schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time.

Over-training yourself: We all love a good workout in the mornings or at night, it's a good pick me up and a way to feel confident and good about yourself. Raise that self-esteem! But, remember, if you over train, your body will go into a mode where it feels the need to survive. You'll be even more tired and will come to a stand still in your get fit routine. Solution: If you plan to workout, do it when you aren't already exhausted, workout when you're feeling good and awake.

Sugar: The wonderful product we all have a love-hate relationship with. The old tale of getting a sugar rush than crashing??? Really think about how sugar makes you tired...How much sugar is in everything we eat, that's why after eating a doughnut we get so exhausted, aside from the mass amount of carbs that were just inhaled. Solution: Try to stay away from foods and drinks that contain heavy amounts of sugar. You'll feel better and lose some of that weight...sounds kind of nice right? Stick to a whole foods, clean diet. Read the labels and be sure you're not buying foods masked in sugar.

Hit the hay on time tonight

Try something new tonight: We all know how important it is to sleep, and feeling tired throughout the day is less than exceptional.

Right before bed, instead of watching some crazy TV show, or any sort of depressing news, opt for something a little more relaxing. Sometimes reading a a leisurely book before bed will help your mind wind down and your body sink comfortably into bed. 

If you like listening to music, listen to something soothing, songs with the sounds of nature or running water is always relaxing. It's all up to you.

So, instead of waking up tomorrow and complaining about how tired you might be, or just feeling drowsy, try our your new routine. Hit the hay on time and set an alarm clock if you use one at the same time everyday. Keep this schedule up and your body will thank you.

Take a Power nap

Yes, there is such thing as a 15-20 minute power nap, and it actually does help you to feel better.

Ellie Krieger explains that in some cultures a mid afternoon nap is normal. Mid afternoon is usually when people's energy levels drop.

Find somewhere comfortable where you can stretch out and sleep well. It's also best to find some place that is quiet...Close your door if you have one, or put in ear plugs to drown out outside noise.

Try not to sleep longer than 15-20 minutes because you may end up groggy instead of refreshed.

zzzz

I love to sleep, and I wish I had time to do more of that. For some reason, when 10 p.m. rolls around, it sounds like a nice time to go to sleep..BUT some how I end up going to bed at midnight or one. Not sure why...That "Iʻll go to bed in 10 minutes," quickly turns to two hours later...Now, if itʻs hard for you to sleep, or are constantly tired when you wake, take these suggestions into consideration please, that cranky mood isnʻt favored...:)

1.) Try waking up and going to sleep at the same time. That way your body clock is able to function properly. (Itʻll help set that body clock; you know those times when you just wake up when youʻre supposed too?? HELLO BODY CLOCK.)

2.) Whatever you do before you go to bed can affect how you sleep and if you toss or turn. Many people watch TV or read before bed to relax and calm our minds. Although, sometimes a violent movie or the news can cause tossing and turning. (Sometimes I catch myself dreaming about what I just watched.)

3.) DONʻT schedule your days activities up until the minute before you go to bed.

4.) Cut back on TV and create a different relaxing routine.

5.) Warm baths relax you and your body temp. drops after baths and makes you sleepy. Also, a light snack like milk or carbs makes you tired as well.

6.) If you use an alarm, set it at the same time everyday.

See more information on Healthy Living with Ellie Krieger.