Why Am I Always Tired? An Expert Weighs In

One common thing many of us may say (and hear) on what seems to be a pretty regular basis, is the dreaded three words, "I'm so tired." Between working, running errands, doing chores, trying to hit up the gym, and maintaining a social life, it's no wonder why these three little words are overused. A lot of us spend a solid amount of each day at work—the typical person will actually dedicate 90,000 hours of their life working. So don't feel too bad if you're tired, as you most likely work your butt off. Is it normal to feel this way so often? People have worked long and hard for generations. Plus, there are so many more conveniences and contraptions out there nowadays to help make your life easier. So, "why am I always so tired," might you ask? We chatted with an expert, and you'll be interested to learn what we found. Read on to learn more, and next, check out The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

The cause of your tiredness could be indicative of a more serious condition

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Dr. Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, CPH, MWC, ELS, a member of the Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board explains why some people seem to feel so tired on a regular basis. As it turns out, there's a very long list of possibilities that does not include a long work week. However, it does cover just about every single possible area of medicine.

Tiredness can hit you for obvious reasons, such as a lack of sleep at night or times when your body's fighting off an infection. Of course, the cause of feeling fatigued can also be indicative of a more serious condition, such as heart disease or even cancer. Dr. Bohl explains a few of the more common reasons you may feel behind on Z's often include conditions like anemia (decreased red blood cell count), hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), sleep disorders, mental health (such as anxiety and depression), and even reactions to certain medications.

When to seek out the help of a medical professional

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Hopefully feeling not quite awake is just a phase, but there comes a point when you should absolutely address your constant feeling of sleepiness with your doctor. Dr. Bohl advises, "If your fatigue has lasted longer than a week or two, if your fatigue is so severe it's difficult to stay awake or alert, if there's no identifiable cause for your fatigue (e.g., you feel like you slept well but you still feel tired anyway), or if you are experiencing other symptoms along with your fatigue (such as fevers, shortness of breath, leg swelling, or more), [it's time to see your healthcare provider]."

These go-to habits can help with feeling constantly tired

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In the meantime, we learned some go-to habits that may help with feeling like you constantly need a nap during the day. One of the most straightforward things Dr. Bohl recommends doing is to make sure to get a solid amount of sleep each night.

"You can do this by following healthy sleep habits like going to bed and waking up around the same time each day, avoiding exercise and food too close to bedtime, and avoiding blue light in the hours before bed. Some tips to do throughout the day to help you stay awake include moving around periodically (for example, after every hour of work, stand up and walk around for 5–10 minutes), staying well hydrated, and regularly engaging in activities that can help manage stress (like meditation)," he explains.

There are also several lifestyle tweaks you can consider making to be proactive in solving your tiredness. "It's also a good idea to cut back on things that can make you more tired, like alcohol. And, surprisingly, it may be a good idea to cut back on caffeine—it's possible that drinking caffeine can disrupt your sleep at night, so if you cut back on it, you may start getting better rest," Dr. Bohl shares.