If you’ve been around this place lately, you know that chronic pain is a real thing for me and I talk about it a lot. It’s really more common than many may think. In fact, millions in the US suffer from it. While pain certainly makes aspects of life harder, it really hits at bedtime. Sleepless nights are extremely common, meaning zombie days to follow. 

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It is my Universe, after all.

Chronic tiredness doesn’t just affect those in pain - it’s an issue for new mothers, people suffering from stress, and well… anyone. Having a constant feeling of fatigue flowing through your body, excuse the phrase. sucks! It makes every day a struggle. So, I want to talk about some solutions to chronic tiredness and it’s less than desirable side effects. I can’t promise we’ll totally stop feeling tired all the time - but first, maybe we’ll get a hold on it together.

But first, what happens to your body and mind when you’re always sleepy? 

The Negative Effects Of Chronic Fatigue

We can split the effects of chronic tiredness into three categories: 

• Aesthetic effects

• Physical effects

• Mental effects

Aesthetically, tiredness will make us look a lot older than we are. There are the bags under the eyes and fine lines that age our appearance. It’s that “sunken” look.

Enough baggage for a tour of Europe

This is a real issue for me. There are, however, ways to address it, and I highly advocate you do what makes you feel beautiful. There are options to enhance your facial appearance with ease to look less tired and your best. Nothing ages us like looking tired and worn out. I got no shame in my 52 year-old game, but I want a rested feeling fine game and I bet you feel the same,

Yep, that was a poet and I know it moment. What do want, I am who I am!

Looking at the physical perspective, we know that being tired all the time beats up the body.

The effects include:

• A lack of strength

• Lightheadedness

• Chronic headaches

• Slower reflexes

• Increased weight gain

• No energy

Just call me all of the above.

All of these seriously impact life. When I don’t get enough sleep, my hormones are all over the place. When this happens, it’s easy to put on weight or even become depressed.

I’m not sad, I’m just tired… Or both

Let’s be straight, being tired all the time leaves us stressed most of the time. We lack energy, so we’re not as productive at work, we fall behind. We can’t take care of our home, as well as we’d like. Nothing is as you’d like it. So you become more stressed. Stress leads to anxiety, depression… it’s very easy to snowball where mental health is involved. 

Let’s Stop Feeling Tired All The Time

Fatigue comes as a result of numerous things. Number one problem is the obvious one, we’re not getting enough sleep. So let’s start with basics and focus on setting a routine bedtime so our bodies get into the rhythm of sleeping. It makes it a lot easier to shut down and get to sleep - helping get anywhere 6-9 hours depending on what feels right. 

Also on the list: 

• Reducing screen time an hour before bed

• Not drinking caffeine after 4 or 5 pm

• Meditating or doing some relaxing yoga to calm down before bed

• Using blackout curtains or wearing a sleep mask to block light and make your body turn itself off 

• Wearing earplugs if there’s a lot of noise pollution where you live

• Listening to white noise machines or relaxing podcasts

Now sometimes, it’s more than that. When struggling with insomnia, which I have, meaning you can’t sleep no matter what, please speak to a medical professional. There are options. Your doctor may prescribe mild sleeping pills that will help you sleep through the night. Whatever the solution, it is so very important to address it, trust me.

Sometimes, fatigue isn’t a result of no sleep. Sometimes, I can be sleeping really well, and still feel tired. Recently that was the case. This is why I can not advocate enough seeing a doctor to confirm the problem. A common source of tiredness is diet. When that is the case, there’s a strong chance you’re suffering from the following problems: 

• Not eating enough food

• Not getting enough iron, B12, or vitamin D in your body

For me, a simple blood test, found a large deficit of B12 needing a course of injections. What a relief to know that I can do something to make myself feel and live better. If you’re not eating enough, your body doesn’t get the calories required to fuel it. Therefore, you’ll feel chronically tired and fatigued every day. Work with your doctor to create a diet that fuels your body with enough calories filled with delicious, whole foods that make you happy to eat them. 

On the same front, is eating the right foods. I know I am not the best here. People with chronic tiredness usually suffer from a deficiency of sorts. See above. I have begun taking supplements but consult a doctor and get your blood checked to be 100% sure you know what needs a boost. 

I am hoping these tips will help you overcome chronic tiredness and #shinebrightly with me. I know I am tired of being tired and I am sure you are, too. Let’s do this and turn our chronic tired to chronic rested.