How many times have you sat at work and all of a sudden got extremely sleepy to a point where you almost fell asleep right at your desk? It’s happened to the best of us. On some of those occasions when you’ve succumbed to exhaustion, you typically know why… Maybe you should have gotten to bed earlier than you did or you probably shouldn’t have had that third glass of wine before bed…
The point is that those are situations that reasonably explains why your energy level is so low. The more puzzling part of low energy levels is when you’ve done nothing to drain yourself of your energy (that you know of)…
And that’s the thing. There are tons of things we do on a daily basis that drain us of our energy that we don’t even realize we’re doing. In our minds, it’s something we do all the time; it’s normal. But science tells us otherwise, that it could be the culprit behind the lethargic days we experience week to week.
Are you curious yet?
Well, you should be. Getting to the bottom of what exactly is making you so tired would be the solution you need to have more effective and productive days, whether at home or at work. Take a look at some of the surprising possible causes of why your energy levels are so low.
Biggest Drains of Energy You Probably Don’t Realize You’re Doing
Sleeping With Your Mouth Open
Sleeping with your mouth open isn’t exactly what you would call the ideal version of a sleeping beauty, and it definitely can leave you with some unbecoming “beauty marks” the next day like dark under-eye circles and feeling of exhausted.
According to healthline.com, sleeping with your mouth open causes dehydration and interrupts your sleep cycle. There are a few ways to combat this like consciously trying to breathe through your nose through the day, address potential sinus issues, and you can put gentle paper tape over your mouth to train yourself to breathe through your nose while sleeping.
Complaining About Work
Everyone complains about work but how often are you complaining about your job? Are you complaining on a daily basis? If so, you have a much bigger problem than an overbearing boss. Studies have shown that going down a rabbit hole of complaining about your job can be far more mentally draining than trying to express your frustrations in a more constructive manner.
The stress associated with complaining about your job can not only drain your energy mentally but it can also interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling lethargic the next day. If your complaints start to consume you, it may be time for a job or career change.
Skipping Workouts
Whether you’re embarking on a weight loss journey or trying to maintain, keeping a consistent routine is key to keeping your energy levels up. That means if you normally work out three to four days a week, you need to try and stay consistent with that routine.
It’s understandable when you’re not able to because life happens at times. Maybe you had a late appointment with a client or you’re just flat-out tired. But regardless of the reason why you skip your workouts, skipping them can lower your energy levels drastically and make it even harder to get back in the swing of them.
Some people will create their very own home gym to ensure they don’t miss a beat. And in conjunction with working out, people will also drink juice cleanses not only as an energy boost but also to aid in their weight loss efforts with the home gym.
Drinking Too Much Coffee
You’re probably thinking how can the very thing that’s supposed to boost your energy and keep you awake, be the very thing that drains your energy? Well, it depends on how late in the day you drink your cup of coffee. If you drink your coffee too late in the day, it can disrupt your sleep cycle, causing you to stay up later than usual. This in turn causes you to not get enough sleep, leaving you with no energy for the next day.
