Amongst my group of friends, I’m famous for my love of sleeping. There is nothing I love more than snoozing, and I’ve been known to call 7 p.m. bedtime on more than one occasion (pro tip: investing in a great eye mask is the key to going to sleep before the sun goes down). Yet somehow, despite the fact that I consistently get 9 hours of sleep a night, I’m always tired. In fact, most mornings my first thought upon waking up is how excited I am to go to sleep that night.
After confirming with my doctor that there’s nothing actually wrong with me, I pretty much accepted my ever-present exhaustion and wrote it off to the fact that sometimes life just isn’t fair. Some people need 2 hours of sleep and wake up feeling great, and I’m just not one of them. However, over the past few months I’ve made some adjustments to my lifestyle and routine, and have found a significant improvement in my unrelenting tiredness.
If, like me, you struggle with the always-sleepy syndrome, here’s a few tips that I’ve helped me improve my energy throughout the day.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Yes, even on weekends. Establishing a routine is crucial for your internal clock. I was regularly doing myself a disservice by having my weekday routine, but then staying up late and waking up late every weekend. While my social life has had to slow down a bit, sticking to my routine 7 days a week has been a huge help.
- Drink you H20. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to combat fatigue. Plus, you’ll also have healthier skin, less headaches, and improve concentration. It’s a win-win.
- Dab on those essential oils. Lavendar oil immediately puts me into relaxation mode at night, and peppermint oil is great for relieving a headache if it’s keeping you awake. Many write off essential oils as some hippie-dippie solution, but trust me, it works. And you smell great!
- Embrace your inner yogi. According to WebMD, volunteers in a British study reported improvements in clear-mindedness, energy, and confidence after six weeks of yoga.
- Stand up. Apparently sitting all day can be as dangerous for the body as smoking cigarettes. If you don’t have a standing desk, set up your computer somewhere in the office where you can work and stand. You can also get up and go for a walk if you start feeling sluggish.
