Ask Aunt B

Dear Aunt B,

I am tired. Just plain tired. I don’t want to die or anything like that, I just don’t have any energy to go on. How do you make improvements in your life when you just don’t have any energy?

Just Plain Tired

Dear Just Plain Tired,

Oh baby, I get this. Honey this is your sign to get some help. Make an appointment immediately with your healthcare provider. Be perfectly frank. Tell them everything you are feeling and exactly how you are feeling. If you don’t get answers, go see a different provider. This is nothing to mess around with. I hope that you are serious that you don’t want to die but if that is not true please tell your provider that information as well. The suicide hotline number is 800-273-8255. Please reach out if you are feeling suicidal.

There are many causes for being tired and you want to address any and all medical reasons first. So make that appointment and follow your provider’s advice. Now onto stuff you can do.

How much sleep are you getting? Research shows 7-9 hours on average is what most people need. Sleep is so much more important than you believe. Many people are sleep deprived and just tell themselves they just don’t need as much sleep as other people. This is not true. So many processes happen while you sleep and when they don’t happen our bodies do not work well. If sleep is a problem for you, talk to your health provider. Ask your provider to check out sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Sleep rituals are a great place to start. Sleep rituals are just behaviors that you do everynight to prepare yourself for sleep. Examples of sleep rituals include going to sleep at the same time and getting up at the same time everyday. Turn off your phone and computers and televisions a few hours before bed. Or at the very least wear blue blocking glasses. Take a warm bath. Do some form of relaxation, some mild stretching or yoga exercises and start the process of helping your body prepare for sleep.The mental state you go to sleep in is the same state you will wake up in. Improve your mental state by doing some prayer or meditation. A nighttime gratitude journal is a great idea. No better way to have a good day tomorrow than to go to bed in a good mental state today.

What are you eating? Stop eating a few hours before going to sleep. What you eat at night can affect your sleep. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Sugar is not your friend. It might give you a boost of energy at the beginning but your energy will crash and you will be worse off than before. If you are a caffeine drinker, stop drinking caffeine early in the day. Drink plenty of water and stop drinking a few hours before your bedtime to minimize bathroom arousals throughout the night.

Is alcohol an issue? Oftentimes people believe that alcohol helps them relax. Alcohol does not make you relax in the way your body likes. Alcohol has a major effect on the quality of sleep you get. Alcohol may help you shut off the crazy brain talk but there are healthier ways that don;t have the side effects.

Exercise: move during the day. Move your body enough that your body is tired when you go to bed, not just your mind.

The most important thing with all of this advice, is to just start where you are. Start small. Small changes make big differences when we repeat them on a daily basis.

Love,

Aunt B

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