Common energy stealers

Not sure what's causing your fatigue? Here are some common energy zappers that may be to blame – and tips on how to overcome them.

Being a couch potato

Sitting in one position for long periods of time can sap your energy, even if you're watching the TV or using the computer. Your body equates the stillness with going to sleep.

Try: stretching often, getting up and walking around away from your desk or sofa. Frequent breaks will help keep you alert.

Why sitting too much is bad for your health.

Read more about getting started with exercise.

Poor posture

A lot of your energy goes on keeping you upright. Your spine can be put out of alignment by bad posture, such as:

hunching forwards
slumping in your seat
cradling your phone

The more out of balance your spine is, the more your muscles have to work to compensate.

Try: whether you're moving, sitting or standing still, try to make sure that your head is in line with your body – not sticking out in front of it. Aim for your ears to be directly over your shoulders.

Read about common posture mistakes and how to fix them.

Crash diets

While losing excess weight will boost your energy, going on a crash diet isn't helpful.

Very-low-calorie diets, especially ones that give you fewer than 850 calories a day, will make you feel even more tired and can cause nutritional deficiencies.

Try: losing weight by eating healthily, cutting out junk and sugary foods, and reducing your portion size. Aim to lose no more than 1kg or 2lb a week.

Read our review of the 10 most popular weight-loss diets.

Find out how to lose weight sensibly.

Sugary breakfast cereals

Sugary breakfasts will give you a quick surge of energy as your blood sugar levels peak. They include:

processed cereals
pastries
muffins
toast with sugary spreads

But your sugar levels will slump just as quickly a couple of hours later. The result? You crash as you run out of energy.

Try: getting a steady release of energy all morning long by eating a breakfast that's based on unrefined starch. For example:

home-made porridge with semi-skimmed milk and chopped banana
wholemeal cereal topped with sliced fresh or dried fruit
an egg with wholewheat or granary toast

Try to choose breakfast cereals that are wholegrain and low in salt and sugar.

Choose healthy breakfast cereals and get tips on how to cut down on sugar.

Constant worrying

If you're fretting about something all day long, your heart rate and blood pressure rise, and your muscles tighten, leading to fatigue and aches.

Try: setting aside some time to concentrate on your worries. Try to think of positive solutions, then put the worries out of your mind.

Read some tips to relieve stress.

Exercising too much

Regular exercise is good for you, but working out intensively every day may not be good for your energy levels, especially if you're a beginner or trying to get back in shape.

Try: taking a day off between strenuous bouts of exercise. However, don't leave more than 2 or 3 days between sessions, or you might fall out of the regular exercise habit.

Read more about physical activity guidelines for adults.

Energy drinks

Many people turn to energy drinks for a quick boost, particularly if they skip breakfast.

However, these drinks contain high levels of caffeine and may also be high in sugar. They should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 16.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says a small 250ml can contains about 80mg of caffeine, which is similar to 3 cans of cola or a mug of instant coffee.

Some of the smaller "energy shots" can contain up to 160mg of caffeine in a 60ml bottle.

These drinks will certainly give you a temporary energy boost, but this is short-lived and can lead to other problems. Too much caffeine can:

make you irritable
make you feel wound up
disturb your sleep
increase blood pressure

Try: drinking plain water – it's a better choice, particularly if you're mildly dehydrated.

Winter days

Many people feel tired and sluggish during winter.

As the days become shorter, your sleep and waking cycles become disrupted.

Less sunlight also means your brain produces more of a hormone called melatonin, which makes you sleepy.

Try: getting outdoors into natural daylight as much as possible and doing daily exercise, such as a brisk walk. Eating the right foods for energy helps too. Try starchy foods, like wholegrain bread and pasta, and potatoes.

Starchy foods provide a slow and steady release of energy.

Read more about how to combat winter tiredness.

Page last reviewed: Tue Apr 2018 Next review due: Sat Apr 2021