So at some point, being exhausted becomes a personality trait for most people (and there are more than enough memes about this too spreading around). For example, people under 50 joke about being old, groaning when they stand up, needing a nap after grocery shopping, and feeling personally victimized by staying out past 9 PM.
Yeah, sure, it’s funny, well, until it isn’t. Because there is absolutely no reason to be running on fumes every single day at 25, 30, or even 45. Now sure, if you’re not reaching your everyday health goals, then of course you’re going to feel tired, right?
But the thing is, most people just don’t really seem to realize that they’re the ones at fault (as harsh as that is). No, really, it’s actually true! It’s not just bad luck or “getting older.” The body isn’t supposed to be this tired all the time. So, if people are at fault for doing this to themselves, then what’s the real problem here?
Well, daily routines are filled with sneaky energy-draining habits that feel normal but are quietly wrecking the ability to function like a proper human being.
Mornings are Setting You Up to Fail
Now for starters, most people wake up like they’ve just been yanked out of another dimension. It’s absolutely one of the worst feelings in the world, right? The alarm blasts, the snooze button gets hit a few times, and the first thing that happens upon regaining consciousness?
Well, it’s grabbing the phone and scrolling through notifications. Nothing says “great start to the day” like being bombarded with work emails, depressing news, and someone’s perfect vacation photos while still lying in bed. But sarcasm aside, it’s not a good way to start the day.
Actually, this is the fastest way to start the day feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and already exhausted. The body barely has time to wake up before the brain is thrown into survival mode. As you know, morning routines should be helping, not making everything worse. So, just a few minutes of actual movement, real sunlight, and ideally not using your phone first thing in the morning might be a good idea.
Caffeine is Actually Tricking You
Now this one seems super surprising, right? Well, sure, coffee is the best friend, but yeah, there’s also a bad influence. It’s there when needed, it provides instant relief, and it makes life feel manageable. But here’s the problem, relying on caffeine to function is like using duct tape to fix a leaking pipe. Sure, it works for a while, but eventually, the whole system crashes.
So you really have to keep in mind that slamming coffee all morning just masks the fact that the body isn’t producing energy properly. Basically, the more that it’s used as a crutch, the more the body depends on it, leading to the dreaded afternoon energy crash (and those caffeine-withdraw headaches).
Just think of it this way; chugging another cup only starts the cycle all over again. You can get exhausted just thinking about it.
Dehydration is Dragging You Down
There is no faster way to feel like a deflated balloon than not drinking enough water. No, juice, coffee, energy drinks, and soda can replace water (and they’re not really that good at hydrating you anyway). And no, the sad, occasional sip from a water bottle doesn’t count.
There’s a very high chance that you’re dehydrated right now without even realizing it, and yeah, it does make everything feel harder than it needs to be. You’ve got the brain fog, sluggishness, and the overwhelming urge to take a nap looming over you all the time.
Now sure, basic water is great, but hydration can work even harder (and it should). Actually, some people use hydrogen water, so this could be something you could look into (it’s highly recommended). So, the Gary Brecka hydrogen water bottle is something that you might want to consider if you want to try out hydrogen water. It takes things up a notch by infusing water with molecular hydrogen, which helps with energy production, muscle recovery, and reducing oxidative stress.
What are You Eating?
The “grab whatever’s convenient” diet is a guaranteed way to stay exhausted forever. Now sure, most people know this because the most convenient food is junk food. Junk food and sugar spikes don’t provide real energy, rather they provide temporary chaos, followed by a spectacular crash. Just because something is high in calories doesn’t mean you’re going to get a boost in energy.
The body needs real fuel to function. It really can’t be stressed enough that you need protein, healthy fats, complex carbs, and so on. So you have to change your diet, because even with a bad diet, you can do everything else on this post, and you’ll still end up tired.
Are You Ignoring Sunlight?
Humans are not designed to live like cave creatures, yet so many people spend entire days indoors, wondering why they feel like zombies. Honestly, just a few minutes outside, especially in the morning, can work wonders. Sitting near a window isn’t enough, you need real exposure!
Doomscrolling is Draining Your Brain
While most people know of the negative mental health effects of doom scrolling, it can actually affect you physically too. For starters, phones are energy vampires, and not in the cool, mysterious way, more like the kind that suck the life out of every moment. The constant flood of information, notifications, and mindless scrolling overstimulates the brain, making it feel exhausted without ever actually doing anything productive.
Plus, the endless scrolling makes you stay awake a lot longer than anticipated. So ideally, try and use your phone less, you’ll feel better in so many different ways too.
Stress is Sucking the Life Out of You
Last, but this one is far from the least! So, stress isn’t just a feeling, it’s an energy thief. The body treats every little stressor like a life-or-death situation, keeping cortisol levels high, draining energy reserves, and making you feel exhausted after even simple tasks. The more stress piles up, the worse it gets. Stress isn’t always avoidable, sure but managing it is essential. The body wasn’t built to be in constant fight-or-flight mode.