 Hey, Psych2goers! Welcome back to another video. Thank you for all the love and support you've given us. Psych2go's mission is to help everyone learn about psychology and mental health in a digestible way. Let's begin! Have you ever woken up feeling more tired than when you went to bed? Exhaustion doesn't only come from doing strainiest activities like playing sports. There are many little habits that you might not even be aware you have that drain your energy. They're normal, seemingly small activities that most of us probably do, but they can't have many unknown negative effects. So, here are 8 habits that drain your energy. 1. Looking on the negative side of life Are you a pessimist? Do you always look for things to complain about? Studies from the University of Concordia have shown that optimists are better at regulating their sympathetic nervous system compared to pessimists. This means that those who look at the more positive side of things are better at handling and coping with stressful situations. By focusing on the negatives of your life, you may end up constantly feeling stressed, anxious, and exhausted. 2. Overthinking Do you stay up late running various what-ifs and worst-case scenarios in your head? Spending so much mental energy without any physical outlet can be draining. These never-ending negative thought spirals may cause you to constantly feel anxious and distressed. Your body produces the stress hormone cortisol when you overthink and stress yourself out. Over time, this constant release of cortisol may lead to feelings of exhaustion and cause burnout. 3. Living in the past Do you often replay moments from your past and find yourself overcome with regret about some of the things you didn't or did do? Living in the past takes your focus off the present moment. Like overthinking, spending too much mental energy without an outlet or way to cope can make you feel exhausted and stressed. 4. Associating with negative people and drama Have you ever felt drained after spending time with a friend? Maybe they spent most of the time talking about themselves or they're bringing unnecessary drama into your life. Whatever the reason, being around people who don't make you feel supported, happy and comfortable can leave you feeling anxious and exhausted. Healthy friendships should be a balance of give and take, so if you always feel that it has become your job to please them all the time, you may feel tired and exhausted. 5. Using social media to bring you down Have you ever scrolled through social media to compare your lifestyle to others? Social media is a great way to stay connected and entertained, but there's a huge difference between using it to get inspired and to connect with people and using it to compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself to snapshots of someone else's greatest highlights and achievements isn't healthy. This can affect your self-esteem and lead to a cycle of negative thoughts which can be mentally draining. 6. Having a poor diet Did you know that eating a ton of junk food can leave you feeling tired and drained of energy? While junk food in moderation is normal, a constant bad diet lacking in water, nutrients, vitamins or fruits and vegetables can leave you bloated and unhealthy. According to a study by Harvard Medical School, diets high in refined sugars, for example, worsen your body's regulation of insulin and promote inflammation and oxidative stress. 7. Not exercising Do you exercise regularly? Besides the more obvious health benefits, exercise can actually help increase your energy. A study by the University of Georgia found that those who completed a regular exercise routine reported reduced fatigue and higher levels of energy compared to those who did not exercise. This, along with many other benefits of exercise, means everyone, no matter your age or fitness level, can benefit from exercising. 8. Having an unhealthy sleep schedule Do you often wake up late into the afternoon? Whether you are sleeping too little or too much, having an irregular sleep schedule isn't good for you. A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that subjects limited to 4.5 hours of sleep per night reported feeling stressed, angry, sad and mentally exhausted. Similarly, sleeping too much can lead to lethargy, excess drowsiness, and in some cases, depression. So, have you done any of the habits we've listed above? Tell us about it in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video, please like and share it with others who may find it helpful too. Don't forget to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification bell for more videos. All the references used are also added in the description box below. Thank you for watching and we'll see you soon.