The Real Reason You're Always Tired

Let me guess. You’re getting seven to eight hours of sleep most nights, but you still wake up groggy, hit that afternoon crash like clockwork, and feel like you’re dragging yourself through the day. You’ve probably blamed your job, stress, or maybe even just “getting older.” But the truth is, feeling tired all the time is not normal. And no, it’s not just because you didn’t get enough sleep last night.

The reality is, there’s a much bigger problem at play here. Your body is likely fighting one or more underlying issues that are draining your energy behind the scenes. This post is going to unpack those reasons, explain how they work, and give you some real strategies to fix them. No fluff. No trendy hacks. Just truth.

1. Blood Sugar Instability

This is the most common and most overlooked reason people feel exhausted all day long. If your blood sugar is constantly spiking and crashing, your energy is going to follow that same rollercoaster. You eat something carb-heavy or full of sugar, you feel a little burst of energy, and then an hour later you crash. This leads to brain fog, irritability, cravings, and yep, fatigue.

How to fix it:

• Eat protein at every single meal. Not sometimes. Every meal.

• Prioritize fiber-rich carbs (sweet potatoes, berries, oats) over processed junk.

• Avoid starting your day with sugar. That means ditch the cereal, muffins, or even so-called “healthy” smoothies full of fruit and juice.

• Try walking for 10 minutes after meals to help stabilize glucose.

2. Nutrient Deficiencies

You can eat “healthy” and still be depleted. Most people are low in key nutrients that directly affect energy: magnesium, B12, vitamin D, iron, and even potassium. This isn’t guesswork either. I’ve seen bloodwork from tons of people who had a perfect-looking diet but still showed low levels in multiple areas.

How to fix it:

• Get your labs done at least once a year. I use Quest Diagnostics.

• Supplement smart, not blindly. If you’re not on a high-quality multivitamin, start there. I use and recommend Meology.

• Eat more nutrient-dense foods: grass-fed beef, wild salmon, eggs, avocado, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

• Get some sunlight every single day. Vitamin D matters more than people realize.

3. Toxin Overload

We live in a world full of chemicals. From your laundry detergent to your skin care products to the pesticides on your food, your body is under constant toxic stress. That overload weighs down your detox systems and impacts how your mitochondria (your cells’ energy factories) perform.

How to fix it:

• Switch to non-toxic products in your home. Cleaning supplies, body wash, shampoo, deodorant—every bit counts.

• Eat organic as often as possible, especially when it comes to the Dirty Dozen produce list.

• Support your liver with foods like cruciferous vegetables, beets, garlic, and lemon water.

• Drink clean water. Not tap. Use a high-quality filter like Berkey or AquaTru. Or get a reverse osmosis system and install it under your kitchen sink. That's what we have.

4. Adrenal Fatigue and Chronic Stress

This one hits home for a lot of people, especially those who grind hard and never slow down. Your adrenal glands are responsible for managing stress, and if you’re constantly running on adrenaline and cortisol, eventually they burn out. That leaves you feeling wired and tired at the same time. Sound familiar?

How to fix it:

• Go to bed by 10 PM. Not midnight. Your body repairs itself before midnight.

• Cut caffeine after noon. It stays in your system way longer than you think.

• Incorporate breathwork or meditation. Even five minutes a day helps.

• Take rest days. Overtraining is real and it will crush your energy.

5. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

This sounds complicated, but it’s simple. Your mitochondria are what give your cells energy. When they are damaged from stress, toxins, inflammation, or poor nutrition, your entire system feels it. You lose endurance, focus, and motivation. This is why a lot of people feel like they’re moving through molasses no matter how “healthy” they’re eating.

How to fix it:

• Eat foods that support mitochondria: grass-fed beef, wild-caught salmon, blueberries, and eggs.

• Use supplements like CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, and magnesium malate.

• Move your body daily. Exercise tells your body to build more mitochondria.

• Get outside and get sunlight. Natural light improves circadian rhythm and mitochondrial health.

6. Hidden Infections and Chronic Inflammation

This one is personal. When I had Lyme disease, I was beyond exhausted even though everything “looked fine” on paper. There are stealth infections and chronic inflammatory issues that your regular doctor won’t even think to test for. These silently drain your energy without any obvious symptoms early on.

How to fix it:

• Work with a functional medicine doctor or integrative health practitioner if you suspect something deeper.

• Reduce inflammatory foods: cut out seed oils, refined sugar, gluten, and processed junk.

• Support your immune system through proper sleep, hydration, minerals, and stress management.

Final Thoughts

If you’re always tired, stop chalking it up to “life” or “age.” That’s not a diagnosis. That’s not acceptable. Your body is trying to tell you something and it’s your job to listen. Energy isn’t just about sleeping more or drinking more coffee. It’s about fixing the real issues behind the scenes.

Clean up your diet. Ditch the toxins. Get some bloodwork done. Start moving again. And most importantly, take your health seriously. You only get one body. If you’re too tired to show up for your family, your business, your calling, then what’s the point?

You weren’t made to live on empty. You were made to thrive.

*Speak to your doctor before making any health decisions.