Feeling like a zombie isn’t always a sign
you need more sleep. Find out what else may be sucking your energy dry
You’re tired…
…but only just before (and the first day
or two of) your period
That pre-flow dragginess may be caused by a
hormone-induced dip in levels of the brain chemical serotonin, leaving you
feeling sluggish and blah. It might also be the result of stomach cramps
interrupting your sleep. Keep any pain under control with anti-inflammatory
pain relievers, like ibuprofen, and make sure you don’t skip the gym. Working
out will pump your energy and help get your serotonin levels back up.
“Going
to the gym will pump your energy”
…but the exhaustion only strikes within
an hour after you eat lunch
You’re in a carb coma. White-flour breads
and other starchy lunch staples get turned into sugar by your digestive system
really quickly, which causes your blood-sugar levels to spike. Minutes after
you eat, you’ll feel a boost of energy – then crash hard, half an hour to an
hour later, as your blood-sugar levels plunge. You should be eating high-energy
foods, like chicken and fish, paired with veg and whole grains, which take
longer to digest. Also, try to aim for four to six smallish meals instead of
three or four bigger ones a day. The more you eat in one sitting, the more
energy it takes to digest, and that conks you out.
…and you’ve been feeling sad and out of
sorts for weeks
Depression might be the culprit. When
you’re hitting rock bottom, your body can feel all-out drained, as if you have
zero focus or energy for anything. This
I’m-so-exhausted-I-can’t-even-microwave-a-bag-of-popcorn mentality happens even
if you’re getting seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night. See your
GP, who can help you work out if depression is the cause and steer you forward
the right treatment.
…and your brain feels foggy; you keep
messing up small tasks at work and forgetting things
You’re probably sleep deprived. When you
short-change yourself more than a few nights in a row, your brain isn’t able to
recharge its neurotransmitters, so you can’t think clearly. Stay alert by
aiming for seven to eight hours of uninterrupted quality shut-eye a night.
Avoid caffeine after 4pm, turn off your gadgets (laptop, phone, etc) before
bed, and open a window so that the room isn’t too warm.
and
your brain feels foggy; you keep messing up small tasks at work and forgetting
things
…plus you have an annoying eyelid twitch
The twitch is a weird but sure tip-off that
you’re seriously stressed. Instead of trying to turn in a little but earlier
each night, focus on eliminating anxiety by doing things to help you unwind
during the day, like tuning into your iPod for a music break, going to yoga or
soaking in a steamy bubble bath before you hit the sack.
…every day around 4pm, then the fatigue
lifts by 6pm
The human body normally hits a wall for
about two hours in the late afternoon, and the sloth-y feeling gets even worse
when you instinctively down a bag of crisps from the vending machine or go on a
cappuccino run to try to miraculously revive yourself. Want the right way to
fight fatigue? Get up from your chair and stretch, take a 10-minute walk
outside for a fresh-air fix, and/or have a glass of cold water or a
high-protein snack, like a handful of nuts or a piece of cheese. You’ll be full
of bounce before you know it.
