Are You Too Tired to Think Positive Thoughts?

It can feel impossible to change your thoughts, especially when you don’t have the energy. All too often professionals suggest if you just “change your thoughts,” you can change your life. How are you supposed to build self-esteem or think positively when you are too tired to get out of bed? Self-esteem and self-confidence can be depleted if one doesn’t have the fuel to fight negative thinking patterns. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions all play a role. However, many times, we look past physical ailments such as adrenal fatigue, autoimmune disorders, diseases, or environmental factors like family stress, that can contribute to lethargy.

Positive Thoughts Difficult When You're Fatigued

Recently, I found out that I was suffering from a physical condition that left me fatigued most of the time. Months of lagging energy, foggy thinking, and exhaustion made me feel like I was turning into sleeping beauty. Getting out of bed was emotionally taxing as was getting out the door on time. I was just too tired.

When building self-esteem, taking into account your lifestyle and energy level is important and can be helpful in giving you the energy needed to work through overwhelming thoughts. Energy is necessary to attend and stay motivated in therapy or your path to positive thinking, and to remember to follow doctor’s orders. Many mental disorders, physical and psychological conditions, contribute to depleted energy. Take care of your body in order to give your mind the power to move forward.

Steps to Take When You're Constantly Tired

Get Out of The Funk

Check in with your MD. If it’s been a while since you have had lab tests run or a medication change, it may be time to check with your doctor if your feeling run down. Blood tests and hormone panels can tell if you have a thyroid disorder, anemia or adrenal fatigue. Deficiencies in key nutrients that cause exhaustion can be easily checked with blood testing.
Depression. If your feelings of exhaustion and fatigue are accompanied by sadness and appetite changes, and you just can't find any pleasure in things you once enjoyed, you may be depressed. You may even feel apathetic, “blah” or unmotivated. Don't keep that to yourself. Your doctor, or a therapist, can start you on the path back to feeling better. (Symptoms of Depression)

Fuel up with food. What are you putting in your body? Could you have a food allergy that is causing inflammation? Are you eating carbs all day or not eating enough good foods? Food effects your mood. Make sure you are getting the right proteins. Nutritionists recommend you eat every 3-4 hours to keep your mood and mind in check. Need help, seek out the help of a nutritionist or health coach to see what your needs are.

R&R. Recharging your internal battery with some rest and relaxation throughout the day is key. A midday nap may be impossible but a walk around the block or a lunch with a work buddy could be what you need to keep moving. Having pleasurable events throughout the day keeps us motivated and our energy levels higher. Watch your favorite show after work or order in your favorite meal. Building more positive events in your day may help too.

Sleep problems. If your clocking more than 10 hours in bed and never feel rested, you might look into visiting a doc for sleep apnea - in which people briefly stop breathing several times a night. There are treatments for that. Also many disorders and physical ailments cause chronic rest but not quality sleep. Check with your doc.

Exercise. Moving your body creates more serotonin, the feel good neurotransmitter. Too much exercise will undoubtedly create exhaustion. Too little will keep you fatigued. Get moving a few times a week to feel energized. (read: Does Exercise Really Make a Difference in Reducing Depression?)

The emotional and physical rest your body needs is an important part of building a healthy life. Making sure you have enough energy to combat negative thinking is a must, as everyone endures moments of questioning themselves. Healthy self-esteem depends on you putting yourself first, and taking care of your health can be the first step.

Emily is the author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girls Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are.You can visit Emily’s Guidance Girl website. You can also find her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.