Common physical reasons:
1. Eating something that your body doesn't like or failing to eat what your body needs.
Suggestion: write down everything you eat for a week and at what time you eat it. Also write down when you feel tired. See if there's a pattern. I.e., too many carbs, after eating sugar, are you getting protein and fresh vegetables in your diet?
2. Not enough sleep or poor sleep.
Suggestion: go to bed earlier, don't use the computer for a couple of hours before going to bed, don't eat late meals (digesting while you sleep disturbs your sleep).
3. Something is out of whack with your body.
Suggestion: go see a Western doctor and also a naturopath or a doctor of traditional chinese medicine. The Western doctor will run the tests to rule out any major illnesses. The other practitioners are well suited for treating systemic illnesses and imbalances that Western medicine doesn't know what to do with other than label them.
4. Work is exhausting you or perhaps you are doing other excessive physical activities.
Suggestion: Learn how to say no and to recognize when your body needs a rest. Then, rest.
5. Not enough exercise. Exercise helps your blood and lymph system circulate. Without it, your body will start to feel sluggish.
Suggestion: While you may feel too tired to move, exercise will actually make you feel better. Start off slowly (i.e., a brisk walk, taking the stairs instead of the elevator) and move up to doing some aerobic activity. Whatever gets your blood pumping will help. A warning: only do more intensive exercise if you are physically well enough to do it.
Common emotional reasons:
1. No joy in your life. If you are not excited or inspired by what you do, life will feel draining.
Suggestion: Remember what you liked to do when you were a kid. I.e., fingerpaint, play sports. Engage in similar activities (i.e., take a painting course, join a team, try something new)
2. Emotionally drained from too many things that have happened in your life recently (i.e., death in the family, big changes such as moving).
Suggestion: Nurture yourself. Do things that make you feel good. Treat yourself as you would a good friend. Don't overlook your own needs and stop pushing yourself.
3. Setting your needs aside for other people or trying to be perfect by "doing it all".
Suggestion: Stop! It's ME time now. Listen to your inner voice. Next time you feel like you don't really want to do something, say 'no', but say it in a nice way. Let your standards slide. It's ok if the bathroom isn't spotless. It's ok to not be perfect. Don't judge yourself so harshly.
4. Fighting against the flow of life and trying to control your life, your circumstances and/or the people around you.
Suggestion: Let go. Notice how much energy you expend trying to make things go a certain way. Start with small things and see what happens if you don't try to control the outcome. You may be surprised to see that things may actually turn out better. Notice how much effort and energy you expend. Move on to letting go of control for bigger things. If you're arguing with other people, let go of trying to "prove" your right. It doesn't matter.