Some people, even after a good 8 hours sleep, actually feel at their worst for the day when they first wake up - absolutely exhausted. They drag themselves out of bed and into the shower and can only function properly after a coffee and being up for two hours.

I’ve noticed there seems to be an increase of people that complain of a lack of energy. Most admit that it has been a long-standing problem, but a problem they wish to erase.

A decrease in energy can be attributed to many things. The good news is you can do something about it but first you need to identify what the contributing factors may be.

Have You Had a Change in Exercise Patterns?

If you haven’t been exercising regularly and you suddenly start doing physical activity everyday then you may experience a drop in energy. Build up gradually over a couple of weeks and your body should adapt quite quickly to the changes. Conversely if you suddenly stop all activity and become quite sedentary then you will also feel quite lethargic. The more exercise we do the more oxygen gets pumped around our bodies, and the better we feel.

Could Long Term Stress Levels Be An Issue?

Stressful periods or events in our life can really take its toll on our nervous system, there fore energy levels. Depending on the situation, it can take months, even years to recover from something, especially if it was traumatic. If this is the case take care of yourself and be patient. Seek the appropriate help and realise that it may take a little longer than expected to feel like your old self again. Try and reduce the amount of stress in your life and become better at handling it when it does arise.

Do You Have An Inadequate Water Intake?

Our bodies are composed of 65–70% of water which is involved in many of our bodily functions.  A lack of water causes dehydration, which can be a major contributor to a lack of energy.  If you are consistently not drinking enough water everyday then fatigue may become a major problem, as could headaches, muscular cramps, joint problems, skin complaints and digestive disorders. If you wait until you’re thirsty then you’re already well on the way to being dehydrated, if not already.  People often mistake thirst for hunger so always ensure you’re not doing this by keeping your water intake high.  You have an increased need for water if you consume a lot of caffeinated beverages, alcohol and sugar, and of course when you exercise.

Do You Consume Too Much Alcohol Too Often?

In recent years there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of media coverage in regards to the benefits of consuming alcohol, particularly red wine. These theories include high antioxidant values, improved blood lipid levels, and protection for the heart. I believe this sort of media attention has given a lot of us a false sense of security, leading us to believe our consumption level of alcohol is fine. I must admit I love drinking a glass of red and confess that often, the size of my so-called ‘standard glass’ is bigger than it should be. How many of you are the same? Having a couple of glasses of wine may seem like a great way to get a good nights sleep, but although you fall asleep quite quickly, your sleep will be quite broken and you will almost quite certainly wake up quite drowsy.  Limit your alcohol consumption to the weekend when you can sleep in and don’t have to drag yourselves up and off to work the next day.

How’s Your Attitude?

Sometimes a good dose of positive thinking and boost in self-esteem is enough to raise our energy levels and outlook on life.  Anyone who has a job they enjoy, is surrounded by people they care about, and generally looks forward to their day, is usually a person who has no problem with energy.  Refer to article "Healthy mind = Healthy body’ for further information.

© Kylie Pogson 2006

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