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Always feeling tired? Experts share 4 common causes of daytime fatigue

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Always feeling tired? Experts share 4 common causes of daytime fatigue

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If you’re always tired, you’re not alone. 

Forty percent of adults say fatigue interferes with their daily activities at least three days a week, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

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So, why are so many people tired during the day?

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Fox News Digital spoke with several sleep experts about common reasons for daytime sleepiness — and how to ensure the right amount of rest for mental and physical wellness.

Check out these four issues. 

1. Poor sleep habits

While constantly feeling tired can be linked to many factors, it all starts with getting the right sleep.

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That’s according to Tim Roberts, VP of science and innovation at Therabody, a Texas-based wellness technology company.

Some 40% of adults say that fatigue interferes with their daily activities at least three days a week, according to the National Sleep Foundation. (iStock)

“The first thing to evaluate when building improved and healthy sleep habits should be your sleep schedule,” he told Fox News Digital.

Evaluate whether you can actually get seven to eight hours — and if there is a consistent sleep schedule in which you go to bed and wake up at similar times all week long.

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Next, assess whether you’ve created a sleep environment that is conducive to helping you sleep better. “Think cool, dark, quiet and comfortable,” said Roberts. 

2. Stress-triggered restlessness

Many people have trouble falling asleep and then wake up frequently during the night, causing them to feel tired during the day, said Dr. Kathrin Hamm, sleep expert and founder of Bearaby, a New York City sleep and wellness company.

“The root cause of nighttime restlessness for many people seems to be related to anxiety or stress,” she told Fox News Digital. 

A common reason for daytime fatigue is that people have trouble falling asleep and then wake up frequently during the night. (iStock)

“It’s not uncommon for the human nervous system to need sensory support to destress, to be able to naturally shift from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest),” she went on. 

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“When our bodies struggle to make this nervous system shift, it often affects sleep quality.”

3. Vitamin deficiency

Constant fatigue can sometimes be caused by a deficiency in essential nutrients crucial for optimal energy production, according to Grant Antoine, a naturopathic doctor and clinical expert at Viome, a Washington-based biochemistry company focused on diet and lifestyle. 

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“Leaping toward supplements like B vitamins, Coenzyme Q10 or NAD precursors without a thorough understanding could be counterproductive,” he said. 

Antoine recommends taking a personalized approach to supplements, starting with a comprehensive assessment to ensure that you’re getting the right mix of nutrients for your individual biochemistry and energy needs.

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4. Blue light at night

The use of technology before bed can contribute to a poor sleeping environment, experts agree.

“Some technologies, particularly those with screens that emit blue light, can be detrimental to your sleep, but more recently, technologies that can help calm the mind and relax areas of tension in the body have been shown to improve sleep quality when used as part of the bedtime routine,” Roberts said. 

“The root cause of nighttime restlessness for many people seems to be related to anxiety or stress.”

“By focusing on these things, it is possible to improve sleep quality, alleviate persistent tiredness and enhance overall well-being,” he added.

Hamm agreed that blue light is a common culprit.

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Constant fatigue can sometimes be caused by a deficiency in essential nutrients crucial for optimal energy production, an expert said. (iStock)

“Light impacts our sleep/wake rhythms greatly, so if you’re surrounded by blue light from your devices right up until you try to sleep, you may have a difficult time drifting off,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“Good sleep hygiene is all about syncing up with your body’s natural rhythms.”

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Above all, the key to quality sleep is to find the methods, environments and positions that are best for you, experts said. 

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“Sleep health is highly personalized. Some of us are side sleepers, some of us are stomach sleepers,” Hamm said. 

The key to quality sleep is to find the methods, environments and positions that are best for you, experts said.  (iStock)

“Some people prefer to sleep ‘cozy,’ while others prefer cool and breathable bedding. The key is to figure out what your personal preferences are, and from there curate a consistent bedtime routine.”

Common sleep hygiene practices that benefit most people are to rest in a dark environment by using a sleep mask or black-out curtains, and to maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, Hamm said.

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“If your fatigue seems to last all day, it’s always best to visit a health care professional to help determine whether there might be an underlying medical condition requiring attention,” she added.

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The Surprising Hormone That Could Make Menopause Weight Loss Easier

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Cancer survivors saw major improvements in sleep and well-being with one weekly practice

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Cancer survivors saw major improvements in sleep and well-being with one weekly practice

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Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.

The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.

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The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.

A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)

The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.

As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.

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Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.

The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.

As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)

“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.

The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.

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“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”

The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.

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“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.

“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”

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The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).

The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.

If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)

If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.

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Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted. 

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“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”

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Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.

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The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.

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Why Weight Loss Efforts Can Sometimes Lead to Constipation and Digestive Changes

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