While we all occasionally get tired, feeling exhausted chronically is not normal and may be a cause for a closer examination of your lifestyle. There are plenty of everyday lifestyle decisions that contribute to the feeling of fatigue and constant tiredness. Here are 7 of the top reasons:

Email addiction. Its amazing how easy it is to be in the middle of something and the little email notification sound can completely sidetrack you.  Checking your email every five minutes is not necessary and in fact can be a huge energy drain. The constant back in forth lowers your productivity and lowers your quality of work. Worse still it trains others to the fact that you are always available to be interrupted by email which perpetuates the problem. Here is a suggestion: chose 3 times during the day to check your email and batch the process of responding to emails into those three times. At all other times, shut down your email client.

Having too much clutter. Many are surprised to find that a cluttered or messy environment can cause you to have less energy than you otherwise might have. Clutter contributes to anxiety and disorder. Think of the relief you felt when you finally got around to cleaning out the garage. There is no doubt that getting organized and getting rid of things you no longer need, will help you to have more energy.

No excitement in your life. Boredom could be contributing to your lack of energy. Its important to the quality of your life as well as your energy levels that you do something exciting and that you really enjoy at least once a week. Many recommend that you do something fun everyday for maximum benefit. Try to incorporate this into your daily routine. For instance, if you travel a lot, make a goal to play golf at various popular courses as you travel around the country.

Add some spice to your life, you will feel the surge of energy and excitement come back to you.

Slouching can cause tiredness. When you sit in front of a computer for long periods of time like we all tend to do these days, you may notice a lack of energy. Much of that is due to poor posture. Along with other back and neck problems, slouching can cause you to not take in as much oxygen as you need. Also it causes your muscles to remain contracted which restricts blood flow. Make sure to watch your posture. Bonus tip: try to get up every 90 minutes or so to stretch and get some water (not soda, coffee, or anything else… just water).

Lack of vitamin D. Researchers are now only beginning to realize the importance of this vitamin. Most people in American (as well as other countries) are vitamin D deficient. The numbers are startling and is estimated to be upwards of 80% of people don’t get enough vitamin D. As it turns out, vitamin D not only helps by boosting your system, it also increases your energy levels.

Eating too much at a time. In the US, we tend to have an over abundance of foods. While food is essential for energy, too much can actually cause you to feel lethargic, gain weight, and become unhealthy. Everyone knows the feeling of being stuffed after a big meal. Instead of stuffing yourself or eating until you are full, try to eat until you are content. Don’t worry about finishing your plate (portions in the country continue to increase daily it seems), your health is more important. Bonus tip: Try energy eating. Its when you eat 5-7 meals a day instead of the traditional 3. At each meal eat as if you are tiding yourself over for just the next couple of hours. Don’t stuff yourself. Think in terms of 200-400 calories per meal. You’ll watch as you start shedding pounds as well as sky rocketing your energy levels. Of course, make sure you eat something that will actually benefit you.

Negative people. For me this is a big one. Some people are just a drain to be around. They really can suck the life right out of you. For your energy, success, and motivation, try to avoid these types of people. Instead seek out and hang around with people that uplift, are good-natured, and optimistic. We often underestimate how much we are affected by our spirit and emotions. Negative people will drain your energy, while positive people will contribute to your energy reserves.