Odd Reasons We’re Not Sleeping

It’s Monday. Many of us stayed up late, got up early and maybe didn’t eat the best over the weekend and we’re dog tired. Maybe we slept well, ate perfectly, and had a good weekend, but we’re still wiped out. Now we all have to function for the new week. Here are a few odd reasons we may be tired.

Not Staying Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water does so much good for our bodies because we are made mostly of water. Drinking water helps maintain body temperature, aids digestion, aids weight loss by helping control calorie intake, helps energize muscles, helps keep skin looking good and flushing out toxins. According to the Journal of Nutrition, dehydration causes all kinds of issues, including fatigue, so drink up and ditch the 8 x 8 adage. Water needs vary by person.

Not Getting Your Vitamins

We should get as many vitamins and nutrients from our food as we possibly can, but sometimes we don’t and we can feel tired and draggy. I know I don’t always get all of my vitamins from the food I eat. So, that’s when I discovered it’s time for a multi-vitamin. One vitamin that can help is vitamin B12. B12 aids in healthy brain function. B12 is found in meats and dairy foods, so if you stay away from those food groups due to dietary needs or personal choice, it’s a good idea to take a supplement.

Being Stressed

Stress messes with sleep big time. I know for some reason my brain decides to rehash every conversation I’ve ever had at 9pm every night. Work stress, money stress and family stress all adds up and can leave you feeling like you’re sleepwalking every day. We can’t always control the amount of stress that’s thrown at us, but we can control how we react to it. Meditation, yoga and exercise are all very healthy ways to deal with it, and they’re all beneficial, too.

Not Getting Exercise

If you have a sedentary lifestyle like I did, get moving. I made a resolution to lose some weight this year and I really think it’s helping my moods and my sleep. I wasn’t really looking forward to exercising because I knew I was going to hurt after not moving for so long, but I am so glad I did it. I started with just 20 minutes, then I upped it to 30 minutes, then I upped it to 40 minutes and now I’m starting 50 minutes this week. I switch up my routine, too so I don’t get bored. So far, zumba and kick boxing are my favorites. I’ve lost 7 pounds of fat and gained a pound and a half of lean muscle. It doesn’t sound like much, but I started on the 6^th of January and I’m still going strong. I’m sleeping so much better than I used to. A study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that women especially who get the recommended weekly amount of exercise sleep better and weigh less than those who don’t so lace up those shoes and shake what you got.

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