Key Takeaways:
- Fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors from lack of sleep, stress, diet, and more.
- Taking B-vitamin supplements can help support daily energy and energy metabolism.*
It’s normal to feel tired once in awhile. If you find that fatigue is holding you back from being productive or enjoying your life, it’s time to ask yourself a few important questions.
Read on to discover what questions you can ask yourself to help pinpoint what may be causing you to feel tired, and how you can improve your energy levels.
1. How many hours of quality sleep am I getting a night?
It may seem obvious, but the amount of sleep you get each night and the quality of that sleep is essential to maintaining your energy.
Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Even just one to two hours of lost sleep has a huge impact on how you feel during the day. According to Dr. Merrill Mitler, a sleep expert and neuroscientist, loss of sleep impairs your higher levels of reasoning, problem-solving, and attention to detail.1 Tired people tend to be less productive at work. They’re at a much higher risk for traffic accidents. It can also influence your mood, which may affect how you interact with others.2
Interrupted sleep can also affect your energy levels. Studies have shown that interrupted sleep can affect energy metabolism by impairing insulin sensitivity and increasing food intake.3
Best supplements for occasional sleeplessness
Sleep supplements are one of the easiest ways to help get good sleep. Whether you prefer supplements with melatonin or without, we have the right sleep supplement for you.
Melatonin-free sleep supplement
This melatonin-free sleep supplement features a clinically-studied blend of sleep-supporting herbs, plus L-theanine for stress support.* Each serving helps you fall asleep quickly, and improves sleep quality so you can wake up feeling ready to take on the day.*
Sleep supplement with melatonin
A sleep supplement like you’ve never seen before, Solgar® Triple Action Sleep features two different types of melatonin: quick-release melatonin to help you fall asleep quickly, and time-release melatonin that gradually releases throughout the night to help you stay asleep.* It also offers calming L-theanine to support a relaxed mood and a nighttime herbal blend.*
2. How are my stress levels?
Managing occasional stress is important not only for your long-term physical and mental health, but for your day-to-day health as well. Try meditating, exercising, talking to a professional, or taking a supplement to help cope with stress.
Best supplements for occasional stress
Solgar® Daily Stress Support is a 100% drug-free and non-habit-forming way to support your ability to deal with occasional mental and physical stress.* It’s made with clinically-studied Rhodiola and PANMOL® organic B-Complex from organic quinoa sprouts.* Each serving of Solgar® Daily Stress Support helps build your body’s normal resistance to stress, aid in your ability to deal with mental and physical stress, and works with your body to cope with the effects of stress-related mental fatigue.*
Solgar® Stress & Anxiety Relief combines two plant-based ingredients, KSM-66® Ashwagandha and affron® Saffron, to create a unique, plant-based supplement that helps you manage the disruptive symptoms of occasional anxiety and stress and help you maintain a positive mood.*
3. What am I eating?
Eating for energy doesn’t have to be complicated: focus on eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of unrefined carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, with an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils.
Where energy is the issue, it’s also better to eat small meals and snacks every few hours rather than three large meals a day. Eating a few small meals every few hours can reduce your perception of fatigue because your brain needs a steady supply of nutrients.4
4. Am I eating enough?
Food is energy, but eating the right amount of your unique body is important. Both under-eating and overeating can affect your energy levels.
When you’re under-eating, you’re not giving your body the calories it needs to function properly. This can have a severe impact on your energy levels, causing feelings of physical tiredness and mental fatigue.
5. Am I lacking any key micronutrients?
Vitamins play an essential role in energy metabolism, and if you aren’t getting enough of certain nutrients, it may cause you to feel fatigued. In particular, B-vitamins play an important role in your energy. They don’t contain instant energy in the same way a coffee or an energy drink does; rather, they play essential roles in turning glucose into ATP, and releasing energy from the food you eat.5
Many people need more vitamin B12 and may not realize it. Vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal foods, so people who follow plant-based diets are at a greater risk of being vitamin B12 deficient. Studies have shown that 80-90% of vegetarians and vegans may be deficient in vitamin B12.6
Your body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases with age, so older adults are also at a greater risk of low vitamin B12 status. More than 20% of older adults may not be getting enough vitamin B12.7
Read more: 6 Important Nutrients You Might Need More Of
Best B-Vitamin Supplements for Energy
Solgar® B-Complex “100” contains all eight members of the B-vitamin family, and helps support daily energy and energy metabolism.* It’s also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and halal!
Solgar® Liquid B12 contains 2000 mcg of vitamin B12 per serving, plus all other seven B-vitamins. This unique liquid formula is easily absorbed and naturally flavored, and is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher.
6. How much water am I drinking per day?
Did you know that being just 1–3% dehydrated can affect your energy and impair many aspects of brain function?8
One of the main signs of dehydration is tiredness and fatigue, and people with chronic dehydration often feel chronic tiredness. When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have enough water to fuel your organs and muscles properly. It can causes your heart to work harder to pump oxygen throughout your body, which may make you feel tired, sluggish, or less focused.9
For healthy individuals, the average daily water intake for men is about 15.5 cups and for women about 11.5 cups per day. However, factors such as exercise, temperature, age, and health conditions will also affect how much water you should be consuming.10
7. Do I have any underlying medical conditions?
Unexplained, chronic fatigue may be a symptom of a greater issue. If you’re chronically tired, it’s important to visit your healthcare professional to undergo appropriate testing.
What you need to know
Feeling tired can be caused by a variety of temporary factors, from lack of sleep, to occasional stress, to diet. Asking yourself each of these questions may help you better understand the cause of your occasional fatigue, and get you on track to feeling energized once again.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Solgar® site.
