"Oh, I'm so tired!"

Ever heard this or said this out loud? (This past week, I've actually lost count of how many times I've said or thought it - it's getting ridiculous and boring!) So I've been doing a bit of research into why, and found some very interesting ideas, not all of which will work for everyone, but they are certainly food for thought. What do you think of these?

​1. What you eat does make a difference. Yes, yes, we all know this... But how many of us 'know' it then don't change anything? Try eating more protein, fats and vegetables, still with some carbohydrates but perhaps not as much as normal. The post-lunch slump doesn't need to happen if you change your lunch ingredients.
​2. Pessimism is exhausting.​ And it can leave you feeling unmotivated to make positive changes. This is quite a major one to work on - it's not necessarily a quick fix - yet small changes in attitude are possible. Looking on the brighter side takes practice, and this starts with a small step in the right direction.
​3. Exercise a bit more. ​This will come as no surprise to regular readers, who will know that my go-to fix for anything is a bit of fresh air and a walk! The evidence-based research for the benefits of exercise is overwhelming, as is the evidence for feeling worse after slumping in front of the TV all the time.
​4. You could be dehydrated.​ Dehydration affects concentration, alertness and focus - so try to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. I'm sounding like a broken record now...!
​5. You need some more rest.​ It sounds so obvious! Time away from what you normally do is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Taking time to recuperate is vital if you want to have enough energy to keep going. If you are so busy that this one feels impossible, schedule it in to your diary. And the best part is that resting is usually free!