Feeling Lethargic and Tired During Periods

Every woman has been there. It’s that time of the month and you are dragging. You feel tired and spacey. It makes dealing with your busy life difficult.

Heaven forbid something important is happening at work or school because you don’t feel on top of things. It is one of the reasons why we call it the curse. You have probably wondered why you have to go through that every month.

There are things you can do to help yourself out. In this article, we will take a look at some of the causes of fatigue during your period.

After all, you will have an average of four hundred and fifty periods over the course of your life. It is important to be informed and proactive when dealing with how your menstrual cycle affects your life.

Why am I so tired?

So, why are you feeling so tired during your period? What is going on with your brain and body that is making you feel tired? A large part of what causes fatigue is a shift in your hormone levels.

The shift in hormones occurs in the days before your period actually begins. It is your body’s way of triggering the release of an egg from your ovaries.

With the release of that egg, your hormone levels are at a level that will allow for that egg to be fertilized by a sperm and implant in your uterus. If pregnancy occurs, your hormone levels have to be sufficient to sustain the pregnancy.

When no pregnancy occurs, the blood that has built up in your uterus for the potential pregnancy is shed. Over the course of your menstrual cycle, your hormone levels plummet and return to normal after your period is finished.

This storm of hormones affects your mood. Your reaction to those mood shifts might cause you to have lower energy and mental clarity because of your sleep habits, diet, and exercise.

One medical reason why you might feel overly tired during your period is anemia, but that is actually not a common problem for women. There are other reasons for fatigue.

How can I boost my energy during my period?

There are some things you can do to boost your energy during your period. Getting a good night’s sleep is important. Shifting hormone levels, cramps and the need to change a pad or tampon during the night can all play a role in getting less sleep during your period. Sometimes over the counter pain relievers and sleep aids can help with that. Also, getting to bed a little earlier will get you extra time to sleep.

Keeping your room dark and cool also aids in sleep. So does shutting off all your electronics before you sleep. Paying extra attention to your sleep schedule will help your energy levels during your period. Your diet is another issue you can control. Your intake of salt, sugar, and fat can add to your fatigue. You may crave comfort food at that time of the month, but indulging in it might increase your fatigue.

Eating small, regular meals and getting plenty of protein helps boost your energy and keeps you level, so will skipping caffeine and drinking plenty of water. Taking a multi-vitamin is also helpful because it boosts your iron levels and B-vitamin levels.

Exercise is another area you might be tempted to neglect during your period, but you shouldn’t. Exercise has been shown to help you get better quality sleep. Hit the gym if you want a shot of energy!

Conclusion

What is the takeaway? You aren’t a helpless prisoner of biology every month. While you can’t change your reproductive cycle, there are ways to boost your energy and feel better. Simply pay a little extra attention to your diet, the amount of exercise you get and your sleep cycle, and you can boost your energy each month when Aunt Flo is visiting.