Energy

Why am I so tired all the time after 40?

Alison
By Alison2 min read

Short answer: Shifting hormones make sleep lighter in your 40s, and heavier periods can leave you low in iron. Eat protein at breakfast, get daylight in the morning, and ask your doctor for a blood test if you’ve been exhausted for more than a few weeks.

You sleep, you wake up, and you’re already tired. By 3pm you could lie down on the office floor. If that sounds like you, you’re not lazy and you’re not imagining it. Feeling tired all the time is one of the most common things women notice in their 40s, and there’s usually a reason you can work on.

Why do hormones make me so tired?

In the years before menopause, oestrogen and progesterone go up and down instead of following their old monthly pattern. That can upset your sleep, your mood and your energy. A lot of women sleep more lightly in their 40s, so eight hours in bed doesn’t feel like eight hours of rest anymore.

Could my periods be making me tired?

Yes, and it gets missed a lot. Periods often get heavier in your 40s. Losing more blood each month can leave you low in iron, and low iron makes you tired and short of breath on the stairs. A simple blood test can check it, so ask your doctor instead of guessing with supplements.

What else drains my energy?

  • Broken sleep. Night sweats and 3am wake-ups add up over weeks.
  • Skipping meals and then grabbing something sugary. Your energy shoots up, then crashes.
  • Not enough protein, so you’re hungry and flat by mid-afternoon.
  • Too little water. Being a bit dehydrated can feel a lot like being tired.
  • Stress. Running a job, a home and everyone else’s needs is tiring on its own.

What can I do this week?

  • Eat a breakfast with protein in it, like eggs or Greek yoghurt.
  • Get outside in daylight in the morning, even for ten minutes.
  • Move a little every day. A short walk often gives you more energy than it takes.
  • Keep coffee and tea to the morning so they don’t steal tonight’s sleep.
  • Go to bed and get up at the same time, weekends too.

If you’re exhausted most days for more than a few weeks, ask for a blood test. Your doctor can check things like your iron and your thyroid.

Write down when the tiredness started and how much it affects your day on my free symptom checklist, and take it with you.

Sources

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