Being tired all the time is now such a common, everyday comment people make that we are already talking about it as a syndrome, the TATT (“tired all the time”) syndrome.

We can’t deny that today we want to be everywhere – we respond immediately to any WhatsApp beep, we try hard to meet our deadlines at work, to be good parents, to have an acceptable social life… and the list goes on. And by the time we sit on the couch after dinner to chill out, it’s only a matter of minutes before we start nodding off.

The TATT syndrome affects many people today, especially women between 25-35 and is the result of an incompatibility between what we want to do and what we can actually do. This is when being mindful is important; the question we should ask ourselves is: what is causing this constant tiredness? Is it mental, physical, or both?

 

Feeling tired all of the time may be the result of an incompatibility between what we want to do Vs. what we can actually do.

 

Reasons why you feel always tired may vary from milder to more complex, medical ones. Check the list below and see if any of these ring a bell:

You may not be eating well

We often believe that we are, but many times we aren’t. Make sure your breakfast is rich with proteins and fibers – they will give you an energy boost, and that your dinner is not too heavy.

You may not be sleeping well enough

Same as above – we normally get used to bad habits, so much so that we stop noticing how they may be affecting us. Maybe it is part of your routine to sleep only 6 hours, or to go to bed late and with the TV on, and you think it’s perfectly fine. Try making some small changes in this area and see if they help you feel overall better. Check a few tips here.

You may be asking too much of yourself

This is a common issue among over-achievers: they always want to give and do more and better until they reach exhaustion and break down.

Nobody will deny that having personal and professional improvement as a main goal in life is beneficial, but we need to know our limits and make sure we do not become our own worst enemies.

Be polite with yourself and don’t push your limits to much. Talk to yourself as if you would talk to a friend and you will soon realize what to do and where to stop.

You are unsatisfied with your life

Change your attitude and do what makes you happy. Give priority to those things that bring you joy. When you are happy, you do everything better, and when you do something well, you have the drive to go one, generating an encouraging virtuous circle.

General boredom may come from unmet needs or because you have stopped doing interesting things. Explore some other possibilities in our previous article “Becoming Aware: Why Do I feel So Bored”.

Sticking to doing things you don’t like without any significant attempt to change them will lead to more stress and negativity.

It may be stress

For many, stress is the way of life and they never give their body and mind enough time to recover. They live with their foot on the accelerator even when at home until they collapse and experience a sharp drop in their energy levels.

Stress is a non-specific response of the body to any demand for change. We have explored this topic before. Take two minutes and go through it if you feel you may be pushing your mind capacity too much.

Try a few changes in your habits for a few weeks. If after this trial period you still feel tired, you may want to seek professional help since there could be other reasons, like anemia, hypothyroidism, undiagnosed diabetes or others.

The main key to well-being: being present

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“Nothing is worth more than this day.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It’s very common that we want everything, at the same time, all the time. We want to be effective professionals but also good parents, and good partners, and take care of our body, and be in a good mood, and sleep well, etc. And by wanting to excel at everything, we miss the most important thing we have: the present.

“What would you like to be when you grow older?”
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?”

Do not feel guilty about stopping. Do not feel guilty about taking care just of this moment instead of worrying about and focusing on the future. You don’t need anything else, just this moment. Make sure you don’t miss it by trying to please everybody and to be remarkable at everything. Take your time. Set your priorities. Make room for what makes you healthy and happy.

“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.” – Alan Watts

Do not feel guilty about stopping. You don’t need anything else, just this moment. Click To Tweet