Hi guys! Welcome to episode 157 of the wildly successful lifestyle podcast! This episode applies to everyone because we all get tired and sometimes we just accept it as part of the journey, but unfortunately, some of the tiredness we choose…
I’ve heard many people say, I’m tired of feeling tired. Sometimes it seems like we are doomed to just always feel tired.
During my meditation practice last week the guide said what if the tired feeling is your body nurturing you, telling you you need to take care of yourself? It could be, and so many times we power through. But I’ve noticed there are different types of tiredness.
Maybe the type of tired you feel right now is from the thoughts that you’re thinking are draining your energy. For me, when I really think deeply about it. A lot of times when I feel tired or drained or have low mood or energy, it’s because I am thinking about all the things I have to do or maybe thinking that I wish I responded differently when that person said that thing I didn’t like or thinking how I ate that food or drink that alcohol and now I regret it. There’s a lot of energy that goes into thinking about food. I have to say since I’ve been on this nutritional journey with Dr Osborne, my mindset has changed drastically. I have learned that lamenting what I can’t eat is counter productive, yes there are moments where I think, “Man, I wish I could eat that” but then I remind myself “You can eat that, You are choosing not to because your health is more important than a momentary instant gratification that will make you feel bad within an hour” Thinking that way has helped me so much.
Sometimes the tiredness you feel comes not from the thoughts you had about the food or drink but the actual food or drink. I know from experience how eating pancakes and drinking mimosas are fun at the moment but then later that afternoon, I have to sleep from a sugar coma or the alcohol, I know that sugar coma is coming before I even do it, and I do it anyway so that’s a choice. And I’m not saying you have to always be perfect, I’m just saying if we eat like that regularly, we get used to the tired feeling and don’t recognize it as abnormal anymore. Enjoying a Sunday brunch now and then isn’t the problem…But listen, I used to think that feeling achy, foggy, and tired were just part of the aging process. Turns out that this can be true but mainly because of the way we eat.
Dr. Hyman this week was likening our body to our homes. We wouldn’t even consider building our homes with rotten wood, it might stand for a minute but eventually it will fall, so why do we take the most important vessel, which is our body, we fill it with junk food and expect it to work like a charm. It will for a while but eventually it will break down. And I’ve been there. I have not eaten so well, thinking I was eating healthy when ultimately I was eating healthy for my body at all. I would go around saying I’m confused, I don’t know what to eat, there’s too much information to weed out what is right to eat. But is that true or was that just me not wanting to face the truth. I know what to eat. We all know what foods are genuinely healthy and what foods aren’t. And I know we think eating healthy isn’t fun or easy or convenient or comfortable, and at first that’s right, at first when you change your nutrition it’s all of that, trust me these last two weeks weren’t easy or comfortable, but once you get to the other side of the withdrawal, it turns into all of a sudden easy, delicious, convenient and yes comfortable…comfortable in a way that I no longer feel tired because of my food choices. I don’t have a dip in my energy because of food choices, my blood sugar isn’t spiking then dropping, I’m not waking up in the middle of the night because of something I ate. And on this note, I have found that hydration is so so so important. Sometimes when I’m feeling a little tired, drinking a glass of lemon water will be just the fix I need. You might think you need coffee in the afternoon, and that will do it but then you pay for it with lack of sleep later from the caffeine. Try a nice cold glass of water…there’s no downside for that one. Food is your poison or your medicine, and it definitely plays a huge role in feeling tired or not.
Sometimes you’re tired because your body is saying “rest”. Heal”. Slow down. Here in America it’s almost like we wear over working like a badge of honor. But is it? Most of the people that overwork themselves generally are not taking great care of themselves as a by-product. They are tired but they just push through. Your body will get its rest somehow even if it has to turn on you to do it. This could look like a mental breakdown, an illness, it could look like a migraine, or depression, things that force you to take downtime. We don’t realize it but taking preventive action can a lot of times avoid these problems. Give your body the rest it needs before it demands it, because it will.
We are each responsible for our own wellness. This is all encompassing. We have one life, going through it like a Tasmanian devil will have you full of regret. Slowing down and taking one full day per week just for yourself, not obligating yourself to anyone or anything. This day is designated only for things that make you feel joyous, alive and inspired. I feel better just thinking about it. Sometimes, you are genuinely tired and you just need to rest.
As far as the tiredness that comes from your thoughts, try this exercise.
All the things that are bothering you, acknowledge they are there, feel what you need to feel and then mentally put them in a box, then sit on top of the box and just breathe. Realize that right now in this current moment… Nothing is going terribly wrong, you are ok, you are safe, you are in control of the things that are in that box and you will handle them accordingly because deep down you know what the right thing to do is. Maybe just acknowledging them and sending them on their way is good enough. Maybe it’s a phone call you need to make, whatever it is, decide what it is and handle it. There’s nothing terribly wrong. You’ve got this, don’t waste precious energy on these things any longer. This tiredness can be addressed and when you do address it, wow does it feel good.
When I feel high it’s often because I feel connected, loved or loving. I’ve done something good or created something. If I’m feeling low it usually is in a way thinking about myself in a bad way. I should have done this or I shouldn’t have done that. Try to catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself…I can’t say that enough.
So we can be tired from food, we can make our self tired because of thoughts, and then we can also physically need to rest because we are overworked.
Five things you can consider to get yourself ahead of the tired curve whichever type it is:
- Hydration is key. Keep a water bottle with ice and lemon with you all the time
- Every 50 minutes or so get up and move even if it’s just a few stretches at your desk
- Plan your sleep. Don’t just leave it to chance. Maybe go back and listen to Episode 81 with the sleep Dr. He gives LOTS of really good advice about sleep. Caffeine after 12 does affect you…
- Get a thought download journal. Getting the thoughts onto paper helps you control them. Any time you are feeling anxious do a thought download on one page.
- Make a mental note of how what you eat affects your energy. You will start to notice a pattern and then it’s up to choose.
My challenge to you this week is notice when you are feeling tired…what message your body is sending you. Is it your thoughts, is it your food, or is it your actual need for rest? Your body is the most important vessel you have and how you treat it depends on the quality of your life. I love you guys and I’ll talk to you in a few days.
