READING 1 Tired of Being Tired

TIRED

of Being Tired

Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 9.1

Ella is exhausted1. She can hardly keep her eyes open. But it’s only two o’clock in the afternoon, and she is at work. How will she get through the day? Ella feels this tired every day, and she doesn’t know why.

Ella isn’t alone. According to research, 15.3 percent of women and 10.15 percent of men in the United States often feel exhausted. Are you one of these people? Here are some possible causes, and some solutions2 .

Sometimes the problem is simply lack of sleep. One in three adults in America do not get enough sleep. Do you have trouble getting seven hours of sleep? Follow these tips: Don’t take naps during the day. Don’t drink more than two cups of coffee a day, or any coffee after noon. Make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet. Don’t look at your phone or tablet in bed.

Diet can also affect your energy. Try to cut down on sugar and fats. Do you really need that teaspoon of honey in your tea? Or that extra scoop of ice cream? Never skip breakfast. That bowl of oatmeal and cup of fruit will give you energy all morning long. Also, your body needs water. Try to drink eight glasses of water each day.

And finally, ask yourself: Do I get enough exercise? When you are tired, you may want to relax on the couch. But that only makes you more tired. Just 20 minutes of exercise three times a week can improve your energy. As your sleep, diet, and exercise improve, you may be surprised to see how much your energy does as well!

1 exhausted: very tired 2 solutions: things that are used or done to deal with a problem

A woman trail running in Inyo County, California, USA