7 Reasons You Feel So Tired That Have Nothing To Do With Sleep

Last Thursday around 2 pm, I felt an unbearable tiredness set in.

I was a little off all day, but suddenly, all I could think about was going home and curling up in my bed with a great episode of "Sex and the City."

Unfortunately, I still had three hours of work and a spin class to get through, so that wasn't really an option. Instead, I got up, brewed myself a fresh cup of coffee and thought about why the hell I was so tired.

I got eight hours of sleep the night before, so why did I suddenly feel putting my head down on my desk for a mid-work snooze was the only way I could get through the rest of the day?

Don't get me wrong, sleep is crazy important. But, it's not the only factor when it comes to how much energy we all have throughout the day.

Here are seven reasons you feel so tired that have nothing to do with sleep.

You're eating too much sugar.

The act of eating sugar is truly amazing. I mean, really, is there any happier moment than the first bite of a chocolate chip cookie?

Unfortunately, too much sugar makes your energy levels plummet. If all you had was a bite of chocolate chip cookie, that would be fine. But, studies show sugar is more addictive than cocaine, so good luck with that one.

Although sugar provides a little high and a spike of energy when you first consume it, within a half an hour, it will leave you totally exhausted and craving more sugar. It's not a great cycle.

If you're pretty sure your daily sugar intake is what's exhausting you, try ditching your post-lunch Snickers bar and swapping it for something just as delicious that will keep your energy high, like an apple and peanut butter.

You're depressed.

Unfortunately, there's not a quick fix for this one. But, it is worth noting one of the signs of depression is exhaustion.

So, if you find you don't have energy to do everyday things -- especially things that once brought you joy -- ask yourself if your tiredness is a symptom of something bigger.

If you have a sneaking suspicion depression is to blame for your lack of energy, consider seeking professional help.

You're not getting enough exercise.

I know what you're thinking: At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is make yourself more exhausted with an intense workout.

I also used to subscribe to that philosophy, until I started exercising regularly and noticed I had way more energy than when I lived a sedentary lifestyle.

And it's not just me. Research showed regular exercise fights exhaustion and boosts energy.

Lace up those sneakers, and hit the pavement! As an added bonus, exercise also makes you look great.

You're dehydrated.

If you're a soda junkie who drinks beer with dinner instead of water, I have some news for you: Your lack of energy could mean you need to drink some good, old-fashioned H2O.

Dr. Roger Henderson told Daily Mail,

Many of my patients do not drink enough fluid each day and only believe they are dehydrated when they start to feel thirsty. Yet other symptoms of dehydration appear before this, including fatigue and tiredness, headaches and poor concentration.

Better fill up that water bottle.

You're not getting enough iron.

Iron is huge when it comes to energy.

When your body doesn't have enough red blood cells to spread oxygen throughout the body, exhaustion sets in. That's exactly what happens when you're not getting enough iron.

Check with your doctor to find out if this is going on. If so, you can take iron supplements and eat a diet of iron-rich foods like seafood, nuts and seeds.

You're burned out.

Do you say "yes" to everything, even though you know you should probably throw a "no" in there once in a while?

Trust me, I've been there. Unfortunately, burning the candle at both ends is a surefire way to drain yourself of energy.

Even if you're getting enough sleep, carving out, at least, an hour of "me" time every day is important when you want to keep your energy high -- not to mention crucial to your happiness.

Your space is cluttered.

What's the first feeling that comes to mind when you think of coming home after a long day at work only to find dishes piled sky-high in the sink, an unmade bed and a pile of clothes on the floor?

For me, it's exhaustion.

Living and working in a messy space can zap energy crazy fast. In fact, according to a study conducted out of Princeton University, a cluttered desk makes it harder to focus and process information, leading to mental exhaustion.

Better get a head start on that spring cleaning.

Aren't you just bursting with energy reading this article? I thought so.

Citations: STUDY: SUGAR HIDDEN IN JUNK FOOD EIGHT TIMES MORE ADDICTIVE THAN COCAINE (ABC13), How Are Depression and Fatigue Linked? (Healthline Networks), The Cure for Exhaustion? More Exercise (The New York Times), Is dehydration the reason you're tired ALL the time? One in five 'don't realise they need eight drinks a day' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3096702/Could-one-five-GP-visits-dehydration-New-study-claims-fatigue-epidemic.html#ixzz4108dVbjx Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook (Daily Mail)