Brits left exhausted by terrible weather, family arguments and Brexit, study reveals

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TERRIBLE weather, family arguments – and the ongoing Brexit saga are among the things wearing the nation down.

A poll of 2,000 adults has revealed exactly what leaves adults feeling tired, both mentally and physically.

Terrible weather leaves Brits in a bad mood, a survey revealed

One in four get exhausted trying to juggle their finances, and 31 per cent cant drag themselves out of bed when its freezing cold outside.

And a fifth feel tired just at the thought of beginning their Christmas shopping.

Traffic jams, bad WiFi and having to repeat things over and over again to your children also featured on the list.

The study, by Healthspan, also found nearly two thirds of British people think the current news agenda around Brexit and politics is making them feel drained.

This ends up wearing them down so much, 32 per cent avoid watching the news altogether, fearing it will sap their energy.

Almost three in 10 feel so worn out, they suspect they suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with just under two thirds feeling lower on energy during the winter months.

In fact, nearly half of adults claim they are drained all the time from December onwards.

TOP 40 MOST DRAINING THINGS IN MODERN LIFE

1. Endlessly terrible weather

2. Brexit

3. The flu

4. Traffic jams

5. The state of British politics

6. Having to get out of bed when it’s freezing

7. A hangover

8. A tedious or long drive

9. Arguing with family members or partners

10. Making small talk with people you can’t stand

11. Staff who don’t pull their weight

12. Money or housing worries

13. Delayed flights

14. Housework and domestic chores

15. Bad WiFi

16. Going to work when it’s dark and leaving work when it’s dark during winter

17. The news in general

18. Juggling finances

19. When the self-checkout says ‘assistance is on the way’ every five seconds and no one comes to help

20. Having to repeat things to people or your children over and over again

21. Train delays

22. Eating too much junk food

23. The thought of starting your Christmas shopping

24. The thought of another General Election

25. Friends cancelling on plans which were organised ages ago

26. Thinking about the state of the planet/climate crisis

27. Celebrity gossip

28. Your commute

29. Building work

30. Clothes shopping

31. Social media

32. Dieting

33. When your bank or credit card gets declined for no reason

34. The state of the economy

35. Wearing heels

36. Having to deal with your ex-partner

37. Going to the gym/exercising

38. Hosting a dinner party/BBQ/family function

39. People talking about the weather

40. Watching complicated movies/box sets

Dr Meg Arroll a psychologist working with Healthspan, said: SAD is due to the lack of natural light in winter, which can play havoc with our innate sleep-wake cycle (the circadian rhythm), leading to poor quality sleep, fatigue and daytime sleepiness.

This study shows what a big problem this can be for Brits as the rates are notably higher here than previous reports.

This may be because there are now so many factors in modern life that drain us of energy.

Reconnecting with old friends and using the long winter days to declutter the mind will supercharge your vitality.

Also, by changing your mindset and thinking of winter as a wonderful time to try a few things you wouldnt normally do, you’ll be able to nourish your mental well-being, boosting energy and mood.

The study also found three in 10 adults feel less like themselves over winter, and a worried one in five believe their tiredness and lack of energy affects their personal relationships.

POWER CHARGE: Best ways to boost your energy levels

1. Use the long evenings to speak to an old friend – this will re-engage rusty mental synapses to make you feel a bright spark on dark days.

2. Use the cold as a mental ice blast – in the winter we live in over-heated rooms that can cause daytime sleepiness so wrap-up and take a brisk walk in the cold air. Youll feel invigorated and ready to power through the rest of the day.

3. Think variety – just as eating a range of foods helps to support our physical and gut health, stimulating the mind with diverse mental nourishment will build strong mental stamina. An easy way to do this is to read a type of literature or material that you may not normally seek-out – if youre a romance fan, try a crime thriller; if you like to read the financial pages why not reach for a sci-fi book? The mind needs variety so feed it well this winter.

4. Marie Kondo your mind this before and after Christmas – just like our attics, our minds can be full of clutter. Therefore, if you tend to have recurrent thoughts that niggle, write these down. Decluttering your mental space will give you more energy as it releases capacity for more creative and fulfilling thoughts which can become muffled over time, especially during the busy festive period.

5. Get as much natural light as you can – our circadian rhythms are controlled by daylight, so we need to be mindful of this in winter. Even if it seems a bit grey outside, do try to spend at least half an hour outdoors, in the mornings if possible, to regulate serotonin and melatonin.

A fifth have made an error at work due to feeling so low on energy, while 16 per cent have called in sick.

Around one in three have also ended up giving in to cravings and tucked into an unhealthy meal rather than making something more nutritious because of their tiredness.

And 17 per cent have decided not to go to the gym or do any exercise when their energy levels were too low.

But to try and give themselves a boost, 43 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, drink more water and 37 per cent bring bedtime forward to get more rest.

Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director at Healthspan, said: Two thirds said they have lower energy levels in winter and 45 per cent said they felt drained pretty much all winter.

With the clocks going back and nights drawing in, many peoples reserves of vitamin D post-summer are at an all-time low.

What is worrying is even though there are government recommendations in place advising people to supplement with vitamin D during the winter months nearly half claimed they still dont bother to take it.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) shows that more than 40 per cent of Brits are lacking this nutrient during the winter and low levels can contribute to tiredness and fatigue.

Family arguments also put a strain on Brits
Family arguments also put a strain on Brits