(ThyBlackMan.com) Is it hard to get off the couch and get moving? Do you get ready to start the day and wish you could be under the covers of your bed instead? It can be hard to figure out what is happening, because lack of energy and enthusiasm can be brought on for a variety of reasons. The more accurately we can identify why we are low energy, the easier we can improve the situation.
Of course physical illnesses and poor nutrition can leave us functioning slowly.
Our emotions, especially grief, fatigue, boredom or being overwhelmed can lead to lethargy. We may have low energy, not be smiling or laughing much, 
wanting to cry or just have a sense of being ‘stuck’ and not know why. In order to figure out which course of action will help us become more vibrant, we need to become better at figuring out why we are feeling “low”.
Sadness can be brought on by many types of loss; a death, romantic breakup or realization that a goal we care about is out of our reach. Many times just staying in bed or relaxing in a beautiful location can be the best course of ‘action’ during initial stages of grief. Try not to pressure yourself about wanting to unwind and be more sedentary.
The key is deciding what type of mourning period will best help us feel ready to move on when we are sad. Here is a post called Skillful Grieving with a list of activities that may bring you comfort as you grieve. Not sure whether you are feeling sadness or depression? This article (Sadness vs. Depression) may help you navigate between two emotions so you can find more peace.
Lack of motivation can also be brought on by “burnout” or a sense that we are tired of having the same activities in our lives. If our job (or unemployment), role as a parent, or caregiver, long commute, pressures of student life are leaving us drained, we need to find ways to rejuvenate ourselves. Hopefully we can make changes in how we spend our day that leave us more uplifted.
Can you find ways to delegate or share responsibilities you find overwhelming? If getting a new career or home is out of reach right now, perhaps just adding a fun new activity or friend to your life will add a boost to your day. There are wide ranges of practical ways to protect your well-being and improve your mood in this post about Avoiding Caregiver Burnout.
Sometimes we are tired because we are just not getting enough sleep. It sounds simple, but for many people getting enough rest is a real challenge. Parents with young children, workers with disruptive hours, caffeine users, folks with insomnia or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) tend to have problems getting enough deep sleep. Many of us are just up at night worried about life’s stresses, or are sharing a bed with someone who is snoring or being overly active.
Try and improve your sleep habits by:
Keeping your room quiet and dark, even limit lights from electronic equipment.
Have a bath, shower or soothing hot beverage (without caffeine).
As best you can, limit thoughts and media images that are upsetting before bed.
Hopefully these ideas can help you better define what your current lack of energy is due to, and which improvements may best suit your needs. As always, we invite you to ask questions, make comments and offer your own related advice!
Staff Writer; Margo Rose
Margo Rose is the chief blogger of http://www.BodyAwareGrieving.com.
Her practical website is devoted to helping people stay healthy during sad times.