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Feeling fatigued: Not enough sleep or something else entirely?

Feeling fatigued? Fruit can help

When you’ve got a busy schedule, the last thing you want to be feeling is fatigued. Perhaps you have a full-time job and a family to look after. It’s not easy to function when you’re constantly feeling tired. However, many people fail to notice the common reasons why fatigue may occur. Once you’ve narrowed the cause of your fatigue, it’s usually fairly simple to address with medical help and advice. Here are some of the most common causes of fatigue.

Not enough sleep

If you’re skimping on sleep, that can catch up with your body and mind. You’ll likely feel like your body is considerably heavier than it once felt and it’s tough to get off the couch or out of the office chair. You might find that your productivity level at work and home declines because you are not fully awake.

While the number of hours people need differs from one individual to the next, the signs described above are telling you that you’re short on sleep. You’re feeling fatigued because of it.

Sleep apnea

If you’re sleeping well during the night, but still finding that you’re fatigued during the day, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. Ask your partner to keep an eye on you during the night and find out if you snore and temporarily stop breathing during your sleep.

Sleep apnea is common in people who are overweight and smoke. Drinking alcohol can also worsen symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe dietary advice alone with a CPAP device to help you breathe at night.

Feeling fatigued? It might be your eating routine

What you eat has a direct link to how you feel. It may be easy to reach for the donut while you’re on a coffee break at work, but that sugar will only leave you feeling fatigued in half an hour.

Many people make the mistake of thinking sugar can give them an energy boost. While that may be true for a while, it will soon bring your energy levels crashing down. You can find out more about diets via Defend Your Healthcare. Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to get the type of energy that will last you all day.

Iron deficiency anemia

This type of anemia is most often found in women. Red blood cells without enough iron in them make it difficult for oxygen to be carried around the body. If your body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs, it could result in fatigue. If you have heavy periods or are pregnant, you could be at even greater risk. If you are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, you can replace the lost iron with iron rich foods or supplements.

Feeling fatigued because of depression

One of the main symptoms of depression is fatigue. If you find yourself feeling sad or anxious a lot, it could be worth visiting your doctor to discuss depression. There’s no quick fix for this mental illness, but getting help and treatment right away is much better than trying to deal with it alone.

Always visit a medical practitioner when you aren’t feeling well. The professional can help you assess why you are feeling fatigued and create a custom treatment plan.

42 thoughts on “Feeling fatigued: Not enough sleep or something else entirely?”

  1. moiline

    Being anemic sucks. It isn’t just the ordinary “Oh I feel tired!” It is more than that. Extreme tiredness. I can’t be under the heat for so long or I’ll be dehydrated. Worse case scenario is during periods. I get bedridden and all I want to sleep because of extremely feeling weak due to the blood loss during period. So many times I feel like fainting but thank God never did I faint due to fatigue due to being anemic.

  2. The Melanated Maven

    All great points! Not enough sleep could be the obvious reason, but I love how you pointed out other potential reasons. Especially ones that sometimes require a doctor evaluation and can be corrected by diet and nutrition changes. Thanks for posting!

  4. Natalie Ducey

    Thanks for sharing, Christy! This has been my struggle for years. I discovered my B12 levels were very low and I now do self-injections every three weeks. It helps for sure. But regular exercise, sleep, and healthy eating are all key pieces for sure. Not always easy, but essential indeed. Thanks again. :)

  5. Dee

    Well voiced and written. I remember being tired due to eating the wrong foods. This led to a change in eating habits and a much better lifestyle.

  7. Jeri Walker (@JeriWB)

    I’ve dealt with a lot of fatigue throughout chemo. It was really frustrating, even if I do tend to bounce back fairly quickly. I had never known what it was like to be tired in a way before where recharging was simply not possible no matter how much rest I got. I’m only eight radiation treatments in, and there’s a chance I will get fatigued from these daily treatments as well, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

  11. New England Nomad

    All good points. It may seem contradictory, but lack of exercise and activity can make fatigue much worse. I find that after a good workout or even just going for a walk can give me a boost of energy.

  14. Baydreamer

    Great tips, Christy! The only time I really felt fatigued is when I was seriously sick last Dec. with pancreatitis from a gallstone. It was that moment when I learned what fatigue truly felt like. I could barely move because my legs felt like logs. Otherwise, aside from feeling tired occasionally, I’m doing okay. :)

  15. Tony Burgess

    If your iron level is too low you can’t donate blood. Yeah that sounds self serving for a person who works for a blood bank but women are a important part of the donor pool.

  17. Wake38

    Christy,
    I often find myself not eating, because I am on the go and I can’t leave out that I could go an entire day before I have a glass of water. Case in point, right now I plan to get up and go get a glass of water–it’s 5:16 pm.

  22. Amy Caudill

    I hate it when I feel fatigued. Sleep apnea also affects the spouse as well. I used to wake frequently when my husband stopped breathing before he got a CPAP machine. It really does help both of us to sleep better.

    1. Christy B

      Great point Amy that sleep apnea and other sleep issues affect not only the sufferer but also the spouse (and potentially kids too). A friend of mine is looking into the CPAP machine. Great to hear it has helped your household. Love it when you visit here :)

  24. settleinelpaso

    Great article. Feeling fatigued is awful and you have nicely outlined the common causes. When Dear Son goes to sleep, sometimes I am so happy that I start watching things on Netflix. I know how it feels when one does not have enough sleep. Shared on social media.

  25. Resa

    There’s nothing worse than dragging one’s feet around all day. Low iron is a sneaky one, as it is not often thought of. I got over my anemia by cooking in a cast iron skillet, and eating raisins.
    Cast iron cookware is a bit of a hassle, as it is heavy and will rust if not cared for properly.
    I don’t need to use it anymore, but it sure got me out of my low iron rut.

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