1. Exhaustion Cause: Good News
We know that our energy gets drained by negative events: death of a spouse, divorce, imprisonment, getting fired, serious illness or injury, losing your home or savings. But positive events can drain us, too, says Alice Domar, Ph.D., executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Waltham, Massachusetts. "Getting married, having a baby, buying a new house, getting promoted at work -- these are all positive steps, but they often come with a lot of worry, which can be exhausting."

To further complicate the picture, it's hard to find support when things are going great. "Tell people you're exhausted because you're caring for your dying mother, and you'll get all the support in the world," Domar says. "Tell them you're exhausted because you got a fantastic new job, and they'll be like, 'Give me a break!' "

Exhaustion Cure: Make a Positive Prep Plan
The best way to end-run positive exhaustion? Prepare for it. "When you start getting tired," says Domar, "ask yourself two questions: 'What's being asked of me that I don't feel that I can deliver?' and 'Am I accurately perceiving what's needed?'" Then make a list of what really needs to be done, and when. "We often feel like everything needs to happen at once, and that's not true," says Domar. Breaking things down into manageable chunks lets you catch your breath so you can plan and delegate accordingly.

2. Exhaustion Cause: Shallow Breathing
Breathing is our most elemental and immediate need. But there's a big difference between breathing to survive and breathing to thrive. "Most people I meet take shallow, rapid breaths, using only about a third of their lung capacity," says Weil. You need oxygen to metabolize your food so your body can produce energy. "Not breathing fully and efficiently has a huge effect on your vitality."

Most of us don't often stop to consider the way we breathe. "We don't pay attention to it because we're never taught to," explains Weil.

Exhaustion Cure: Extend Your Exhalations
If you make a conscious effort to deepen your breathing, says Weil, "you'll sleep better, gain more control over your moods, experience less fatigue, and have better energy overall." Rather than start by taking a big, deep inhalation, increase your breathing efficiency with a focus on breathing out. "We have more voluntary control over the exhalation," he explains. By learning to use the intercostal muscles (between the ribs) to expel more air from the lungs, "inhalation will automatically increase."

For best results, Weil recommends spending a little time every day on breathwork. "Keep it very simple. For several minutes, simply squeeze at the end of every exhalation. You don't have to sit in any special posture. You can do this anywhere, but lying in bed is a good place to start. Over time, your breath will become more regular, quieter, and deeper." And your energy level will grow stronger.

3. Exhaustion Cause: Disconnection from Nature
It's hard to feel tired or anxious while hiking in the wilderness or staring out at a blue expanse of ocean. "Nature has built-in mechanisms for relieving stress," says Doreen Sweeting, M.D., founder of Psychosomatic Wellness Intuitive Life Coaching. "There's aromatherapy in the scent of the pine trees and grass, chromatherapy in the colors of the rocks and sky and flowers, sound therapy in the birdsong and wind rustling the leaves."

Our society, unfortunately, is increasingly cut off from this wellspring of energy. "We live in artificial light. We walk on concrete. We exercise on machines," Sweeting says. "We go from home to work to the store and back home."

Exhaustion Cure: Take a Morning Walk
Whether you live in a suburb or a bustling city, take a walk first thing in the morning -- if possible, in an area filled with trees. "You'll feel the energy of nature replenishing you," says Sweeting. "The tree huggers are on to something." As often as possible, venture deeper into the woods by planning day hikes or overnight camping trips.

Make an extra effort to notice the changing seasons. "You'll start to realize the rhythms of nature apply to you, too," Sweeting concludes. "When you harmonize yourself with nature, you'll develop a stronger sense of well-being. The body responds quickly to being honored in this way. And it can all start with getting out to the park."

4. Exhaustion Cause: Toxins Everywhere
"Clean air, clean water, and clean food are the physical building blocks of good energy," says Merrell. But those fundamentals are increasingly hard to come by. According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 148 industrial chemicals course through our bloodstream at any given moment. Are they toxic? Probably. 

"[Scientists] tend to look at the data and determine whether each chemical is within an acceptable level," says Merrell. "But what happens when you get 148 potentially toxic chemicals that may be interacting in your body? Little bits of this and that add up, and we just don't know what's really safe." Processing these ever-present chemicals can strain your body's energy resources, possibly contributing to fatigue.

Exhaustion Cure: Clean House
Limit your exposure wherever you can, says Merrell. Invest in a good water filter and air purifier, buy nontoxic cleaners, and choose home products (paints, carpets, furniture) less likely to emit harmful fumes and chemicals. Finally, choose organic food whenever possible. Merrell suggests consulting the Environmental Working Group to assess which fruits and vegetables are most and least likely to contain pesticide residues.

5. Exhaustion Cause: Lack of Meaning and Joy
To feel fully alive and energetic, says Merrell, we need a sense of meaning and connection. But it's all too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind -- work 9 to 5, buy groceries, make dinner, pay bills, watch TV -- and let the things that make us feel truly happy slide off our priority list. Without enough meaning and joy to buoy you, fatigue and stress can easily drag you down.

Exhaustion Cure: Keep a Journal
Start by recording your sources of disconnection and stress. At the end of each day, write down all the things that created stress in your life, how you reacted to them, and the result of your actions. "After a while, you'll start to notice patterns," says Merrell. Then record all the things that bring you joy and pleasure.

Now plot your own route to a more meaningful life. Do less of the things that bring you unhappiness and anxiety, and more of those that make you feel good. You might find, for instance, that a nightly chat with your spouse keeps you grounded, whereas watching TV drains you. You could discover that making time for that dance class is worthwhile even when you're tired, because you always leave energized. Or that you feel renewed after attending religious services or sitting down to meditate. Follow the trail of the positive, and you're guaranteed to feel a charge. And if you don't already, consider practicing random acts of kindness. "Giving to others without expecting anything in return is the highest form of connectivity," says Merrell.