Yawn….
It’s probable that just by reading the word ‘yawn’ you are yawing away affecting the people around you in the process. Is it because you are simply bored? Or you are so tired that anything that is related to resting makes you go ‘yawn’.
Constant work and inadequate sleep contribute to feeling tired for longer duration. So do chronic illnesses that test your strength (physical as well as emotional) to the hilt. The latter is due to exhaustion and not due to feeling tired.
Degrees of Tiredness
Tiredness is felt at varied degrees based on the contributors to it. Lack of sleep, overwork, sedentary lifestyle could lead to a tired feeling. This can be remedied by proper rest, exercise and diet.
Fatigue is the next stage of tiredness wherein it becomes difficult to focus on given tasks; while exhaustion is the extreme stage which might also lead to depression. These two could be due to diseases or illnesses or emotional disturbances or stress. It is possible to overcome the feeling of tiredness with small lifestyle changes.
However in order to treat fatigue and exhaustion you need to consult a medical practitioner.
Five Tips To Deal With That Tired Feeling Adequate Slumber – The most common cause of tiredness is lack of adequate and restful sleep. It is common knowledge that an average adult requires 7 – 8 hours of restful and deep slumber in order to carry on with normal routine work. Children need more than 10 hours of rest to remain alert and active. When a person is deprived of sleep due to varied reasons – snoring by partner, uncomfortable bed, illness, stress, over work, disturbed sleep patterns, insomnia, imbalance of growth hormone etc – the body and mind go on the snooze mode the next day. However, since there is more work to be done, the chances are you will not get the required rest even the next day and the cycle continues till you are perennially tired. Hence do not compromise with your snooze time and stay active to tackle the next day.
Regular Exercise – Our hectic lives have ensured that in spite of running around, we are unable to get in proper exercise hours to avoid lifestyle related diseases like obesity, diabetes and coronary heart diseases. Combine stress with the sedentary lifestyle and you have a sure shot recipe for chronic tiredness. Research has proved that a moderate level of exercise is sufficient to come out of the self imposed feeling of tiredness. Exercises boost our immunity, provide adequate oxygen to the body and even keep us in a happy and active state of mind. Exercise for minimum 20 minutes – by walking, jogging, cycling, stretches, yoga etc – to keep your mind, body and spirit is perfect harmony. Take the stairs instead of the elevator; take a bicycle to work if possible. Or simply dance as it a good form of exercise!
Nutritious Diet – A diet that covers all nutritional elements such as iron, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins is sufficient for feeling fresh and active throughout the day. A balanced diet ensures that you are replenishing your levels of energy that are utilized during the normal wear and tear of the body while performing daily tasks. Calorie intake and fatty foods contribute to the feeling of tiredness. Lighter foods comprising of all essential nutrients not only keep you active but also keep lifestyle related diseases at bay. To avoid tiredness and staying fit & active divide your meals in 5 portions through the day. Don’t go without breakfast as it disturbs the metabolism and ultimately sleep patterns making you lazy and tired.
Rehydrate To Rejuvenate – Dehydration is one of the common causes of tiredness irrespective of age and gender. In summer we remember to drink adequate water, however in winter it is easy to forget about drinking sufficient water. A normal human being requires 8 -10 glasses of water on a normal day. The number should go up as the mercury soars but it should not go down when the mercury dips. The benchmark is 8 glasses – minimum.
Positive Attitude – Sometimes tiredness is due to mental or emotional turmoil. Stress, overwork, lack of sleep or relationships with relatives, friends and peer group play a pivotal role on the state of our mind. A negative attitude manifests in the form of physical tiredness leading to chronic mental and physical illnesses such as depression and coronary heart diseases to suggest a few. Keep your attitude as much positive as possible. Do not let small things affect your mental and emotional well being. Follow the philosophy that nothing is permanent except your attitude. Join a group or do activities that make you happy to keep the feeling of tiredness at bay.
Tiredness could be due to various reasons. It is in a person’s hand to figure out the trigger and deal with it. Nevertheless if your tiredness is chronic and has surpassed the first level, it is always better to seek medical advice as it could be due to illnesses that may not be obvious to you.