Saturday’s Health & Wellness
Why Are We So Tired? Living in a Loud World

One thing I have noticed is how often people younger than me say they’re tired.

“I’m exhausted.”

“I don’t have the energy.”

“I just want to sleep.”

And it makes me wonder what all is wearing us out.

I personally believe part of it has to do with this loud world we live in.

Constant distractions. Constant stimulation. Feeling like we need to keep up, while trying to figure out what information we can actually trust.

When does our mind get a chance to be off duty?

Think about what we take in throughout one day.

What calls us back every day?

Social media.

What makes us check in? Is there something we want to see, somebody we want to connect with—or do we reach for the phone without even thinking?

We go on there for one thing and find ourselves watching something completely different. Reading comments. Looking at somebody’s life. Getting irritated by a person we don’t even know. 🤣

Then we come back later and do it again.

I use social media, too. I share my writing there. But I think it’s fair to ask ourselves how we feel after spending time on it.

Did I enjoy that?

Did I learn something?

Why am I carrying an argument from somebody else’s comment section into my own day?

Even entertainment comes with decisions

Turn on the television, and look at all the options.

We can spend so much time looking for something to watch that we get tired of looking.

Read the description. Watch a preview. Start an episode. Turn it off. Try something else.

We sat down to enjoy ourselves, and now we’re still trying to decide.

Sometimes I think we need to give ourselves permission to pick something—or turn the whole thing off.

Every available option does not need our attention.

Then there is the news

What source do we believe?

Who originally said it? What information supports it? Is it reporting, somebody’s opinion, an advertisement, or a headline written to get us worked up?

Just because it’s Googleable does not mean it’s fact.

And seeing the same claim shared over and over does not answer those questions.

I want to know what is happening in the world. But I also want to be aware of how much time I spend taking it in.

Can I get the information without carrying every headline around with me all day?

What else are we consuming?

Food. Drinks. Coffee. Alcohol. Whatever we use to wake up, keep going, relax, or fall asleep.

What are we taking into our bodies, and when?

Are we eating regularly? Paying attention to how we feel afterward? Or grabbing whatever is available because we are already tired?

I enjoy my Cowboy Coffee. You know that. 🤣 But even something we enjoy deserves a little awareness. Caffeine can interfere with sleep, and its effects can last for hours. Large meals and alcohol close to bedtime can also get in the way of restful sleep. 

How often do we look at the whole day when we’re wondering why we didn’t sleep well that night?

We need actual rest

There is a difference between lying down and feeling rested.

Have you ever been physically still while your thoughts were going everywhere?

Tomorrow’s responsibilities. Today’s conversation. Something you watched. Something you wish you had said.

Then you look at the clock.

Now you’re thinking about how little sleep you’re going to get.

We cannot always make our minds go quiet on command. But we can give ourselves some time to settle before expecting sleep to happen.

A consistent sleep schedule, a quiet bedtime routine, and less bright screen exposure before bed are recommended sleep habits. They give us somewhere practical to start. 

For me, prayer, quiet breathing, and listening to the rain are things I appreciate. I like those moments when I don’t have to follow a storyline, answer a question, or figure something out.

Look up for a minute

Take a comfortable breath.

Notice the view around you.

I spend time looking out my tower window. The sky changes. The trees change. The birds show up with their own business to handle. 🤣

I enjoy the cool air and watching what is happening right in front of me.

There is something about paying attention to those simple things that I appreciate more and more.

And giving thanks matters to me.

Sometimes acknowledging what is good gives me a little lift. A peaceful moment. Something beautiful outside. A conversation that made me laugh.

I can be tired and still notice a blessing. I don’t have to pretend everything is wonderful to appreciate something that is.

Of course, ongoing tiredness deserves attention. Fatigue can also come from health conditions, medications, or sleep disorders. If it continues for weeks, affects daily life, or has no clear explanation, talk with a healthcare professional. We shouldn’t assume the phone or a busy mind explains everything. 

But I do think our daily habits deserve an honest look.

How much are we taking in—and when are we giving ourselves time to settle?

We talk about keeping up.

I’m asking: keeping up with what?

And how much of our attention does it really deserve?

Happy Saturday.

Lady Flava Wellness 🌻

From Flava in Her Tower 🌻