Break the Too Tired Cycle

We all feel tired from time to time. Sometimes it’s for obvious reasons, such as too many late nights or long hours spent at work. However, tiredness that goes on for a long time isn’t normal and can affect your ability to enjoy your life. A constant feeling of fatigue is emotionally, psychologically and physically draining and can negatively impact your relationships both at home and at work. The good news is you can make some simple changes to your daily routine to successfully combat the feeling of being too tired.

Below are six common factors that may contribute to your lack of energy and some simple changes you can make to help you wake up.

Lack of Exercise

The average person watches 33 hours of TV per week. However, the main excuse for not exercising is that there is not enough time.

Take some time away from technology including TV, smartphones and computers, and get moving. The more a person moves, the more blood is circulated throughout the body. This increased blood flow helps give you energy and improves you mental wellbeing.

For the convenience of employees, our on-site, 10,000 square foot gym the TVH Nudge Center offers a variety of different exercise equipment options and easy access to over 700 exercise videos. Other remote locations also have a Nudge Centers, on-site classes and all employees can receive Health Club and activity reimbursements for races and tournaments.

Lack of Sleep

One in three people aren’t getting enough sleep each night. Extended sleep deprivation not only contributes to a feeling of exhaustion, but also elevates your risk of getting sick and increase weight.

For the best benefits for your health and wellbeing, make an effort to get seven or more hours of sleep a night.

Unhealthy Diet

Your diet has a huge impact on the way you feel.  A poor diet lacking in nutrients will leave you drained and fatigued.

Read food labels. Sugar and high processed foods will cause a roller coaster of highs and lows in blood sugar, thus decreased energy levels.  Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they cause havoc on your sleeping habits.

TVH’s new on-site restaurant, The Daily Pallet, provides a fresh salad bar and healthy daily meals choices for our employees to enjoy.  TVH also offers nutrition and healthy lifestyle classes for all employees.

Lack of H2O

Water is second only to oxygen for life.  Dehydration impacts energy levels and dramatically impacts all of the organs in the body including the brain.

Set a goal to drink eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. Also cut out drinks high in caffeine. Too much caffeine keeps the body in a high degree of alertness, even to the point of being tense. Try replacing your normal cup of coffee or soda with water instead.

Stress

Stress is inevitable; however, how one reacts to it makes all the difference. Be aware of your stress triggers. Knowing what causes you stress can help you formulate ways to respond to it in a healthy manner.

It’s important to create a positive work/life balance. TVH’s Health and Wellness (TVH Nudge) program offers employees bi-monthly meditation classes, as well as access to an on-site meditation room.

Medical Conditions

While there are ways to combat a feeling of fatigue there are serious medical conditions that may be at work.  Please consult your physician if you think you have any of these medical conditions listed below.

• Anemia: Anemic patients have a low red blood cell count which impairs the normal circulation of oxygen throughout the body. Common symptoms include fatigue and loss of energy as well as rapid heart beat and shortness of breath.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): CFS, is characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts at least 4 months. Sufferers often report other symptoms such as joint pain, aching muscles, and gastrointestinal difficulties.
• Depression: A lack of energy and decrease in general motivation are among the most common symptoms of depression, along with difficulty concentrating and a pervasive feeling of emptiness or sadness.
• Diabetes: A person with diabetes will frequently feel tired because their body is unable to utilize glucose, one of the body’s primary sources of energy. Aside from tiredness, the symptoms include excessive thirst, blurred vision, and weight loss.
• Sleep apnea: This condition causes the airway to narrow during sleep, which interrupts a person’s breathing and oxygen supply. The classic sign of sleep apnea is disrupted sleep that causes tiredness the next day. Snoring is a common indicator of this condition.
• Thyroid disease: Low levels of thyroid hormone (“hypothyroidism”) result in fatigue, weakness, weight gain, a low body temperature and constipation. This is because the thyroid hormone is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism. An imbalance triggers a cascade of physical and psychological symptoms.

In order to meet the medical needs of our employees and their immediate family members, TVH offers an on-site health clinic that helps with preventative and non-preventative care.

Decide to make changes today and give yourself the best support you can to improve your well-being and stop feeling tired all the time.  The TVH Nudge program mantra, daily choices matter, is an on-going reminder to think about living wellness every day.

If you would like to know more about TVH and the Nudge Health and Wellness programs, contact Lucy DelSarto, Health & Wellness Coach for TVH Americas, at lucy.delsarto@tvh.com