Mile Marker Monday: Low On Energy Despite Exercising and Eating Healthy?
It may be time to evaluate other possible factors
Happy Monday morning everyone.
I know I have gone MIA lately due to some personal circumstances but am happy to say I am back on my grind. Sometimes life forces you to hit the pause button and only you can decide when you’re ready to hit play again.
Today I want to talk about energy - the foundation of life and existence. Without energy, it is hard to carry on in an already stressful world.
And I try to do everything right.
I exercise, meditate, practice mindful breathing, eat healthy and get enough sleep at night to function.
But I still have days when I don’t have it. I feel blah. My biorhythms are off.
It happens to the best of us. But if it is lasting more than a couple of days into weeks, you may need to evaluate what is causing low energy and know how to combat it.
Here are some suggestions that work for me when I’m doing everything right and still feeling exhausted.
It is important you ask yourself these questions and answers with full honesty.
Am I getting outside enough?
We can’t control where we live. Some of us live in hot climates while others reside in cooler environments. We can’t control the weather either. In fact, it has been a rainy early summer for many.
But you still have to make it a purpose and mission to get outside as much as you can.
Why?
The average human being spends 90 percent of their day indoors.
Yes, you read that correctly. That is scary!
Get outside. Spend time in nature. Even if only for 20 minutes.
Getting in touch with the outside world can boost your energy levels and improve your overall well-being.
Is my job stressing me out?
We spend 1/3 of our lives at work.
Your career plays a vital role in your energy levels.
Is your job satisfying you or is it draining you?
I remember working one of the most stressful jobs of my life a few years back. It completely sucked me dry of energy.
Even when I was exercising as a form of stress relief, I still carried the drainage of my job. I began to dread it and ultimately went down a different career path.
Keep a journal and write what is going well at your job and what needs to improve.
What often happens is we get used to our day to day, a baseline is formed, but we don’t realize there could be something influencing us feeling fatigued in life that is taking place at our work.
Evaluate it. Understand it. Work on finding solutions.
Am I spending too much time on technology?
TV, phones, computers, etc.
Technology is everywhere. We are forced to use it but do we realize how much our eyes are staring at screens all day?
The average American spends over 7 hours staring at screens.
If you are forced to stare at a screen all day at work, my best suggestion is to schedule breaks.
Take a short 5 minute break and move on to another task not involving a screen, stand up and get a quick stretch, or even short walk around your workplace.
I would do this every 30 minutes.
Staring at screens all day can disrupt your sleep patterns and drain your energy.
Make it a point when you get home to limit your time scrolling on social media apps or zoning out on the television.
Seek out a hobby or activity you enjoy that doesn’t involve the usage of technology, especially if you work a job that requires you to sit in front of a screen all day.
Am I staying hydrated?
And are you drinking the right water?
And eating the right foods?
You see, drinking water from a plastic bottle isn’t the best health choice. You could be consuming chemicals that can disrupt your body, such as your hormones, which can lead to feeling low energy despite believing you are getting enough water throughout the day.
I would get a water filter - one for your fridge and a filtered water bottle.
Never, ever drink tap water. This is a must. A non-negotiable.
Many also don’t realize that you stay hydrated by the foods you are eating.
Fruits and veggies are the best source of foods to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
I suggest watermelon as one of the best foods to keep you hydrated. The benefits are insane!
Am I Connected?
This is very important and often overlooked.
Are you connected with yourself right now? Are you in alignment with who you want to be and your goals for your life?
Are you connected with others? Are your friendships and relationships empowering you or draining you?
We need connection with ourselves, others and the world around us.
It doesn’t have to be perfect but we need some sense of belonging that improves our overall well-being, state of mind and enhances our cognitive function.
All of these things contribute to the energy you feel and carry throughout the day.
If there is a disconnect, it can be sucking your energy out like a vacuum and you don't even know it!
Fatigue is very normal and a natural response to life.
But if it lasts for days into weeks, it is essential to examine what is going on and you may need to reflect and dig down deep to get to the root.
Exercise and eating healthy are powerful but we have to make sure we are working out the other areas of our lives as well!