Why you feel tired all the time

Do you often ask yourself, "Why am I so tired all the time?" If so, this article may be the perfect read for you; we have compiled a list of some of the most common reasons for tiredness and what you can do to bounce back into action.

1. Lack of sleep
   A lack of sleep may seem an obvious reason for feeling tired, yet 1 in 3 U.S. adults are consistently not getting enough of it.
   People aged between 18 and 60 years need 7 or more hours of sleep every day to promote optimal health, according to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.
   If you struggle to fit in 7 hours of sleep, here are some tips to help you achieve a full dose of much-needed slumber:
   #Maintain a consistent sleep routine.
   #Avoid naps.
   #Limit time awake in bed to 5–10 minutes.
   #Ensure that your bedroom is quiet, dark, and a comfortable temperature.
   #Limit caffeinated drinks.

2. Poor diet
   The easiest way to banish tiredness is to make adjustments to your diet. Eating a healthful and balanced diet can make the world of difference to how you feel.
   You can switch up your eating style today by implementing some of these small changes:
   #Eat the right amount of calories
   #Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.
   #Ensure whole grains make up half the grains you consume.
   #Shift to low-fat and fat-free dairy
   #Vary your protein routine.

3. Sedentary lifestyle
   When tiredness sets in, sitting on the couch and relaxing could seem to be the only answer. But getting up and moving may be the best thing you can do to re-energize and eradicate fatigue.
   Research by the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens discovered that compared with sitting quietly, one single bout of moderate-intensity exercise lasting for at least 20 minutes helped to boost energy.

An earlier study by UGA also found that when sedentary individuals completed an exercise program regularly, their fatigue improved compared with those who did not.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggest that all adults need 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and muscle-strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups on 2 or more days per week.

1. Excessive stress
   Many situations can cause stress. Work, financial problems, relationship issues, major life events, and upheavals such as moving house, unemployment, and bereavement — the list of potential stressors is never-ending.
   A little stress can be healthy and may actually make us more alert and able to perform better in tasks such as interviews, but stress is only a positive thing if it is short-lived.

Excessive, prolonged stress can cause physical and emotional exhaustion and lead to illness.

1. Medical conditions
   If you have made lifestyle changes to do with your physical activity, diet, stress levels, and sleep but still feel tired all the time, there could be an underlying medical condition.
   Some of the most common conditions that report fatigue as a key symptom include:

anemia
underactive thyroid
diabetes
anxiety
depression
chronic fatigue syndrome
urinary tract infection
food intolerance
heart disease