Tired and Craving Wine or Crisps? Here's why...
It’s 4pm. Or maybe 8pm.
You’re tired.
You've over stretched yourself.
You're a bit over it, in general.
And suddenly — a glass of wine/bag of crisps/bar of chocolate/mindless scrolling sounds like the answer to everything.
You were doing fine all day… so why now?
Why do cravings feel so much stronger when you’re tired?
Your brain is wired to seek the easiest form of relief when your energy is low.
And alcohol/food/social media has likely been your go-to shortcut for years.
I always say though… “THIS IS GREAT NEWS!” 🙂↕️
Stay with me here... 🤓
If you’ve trained your brain to seek out relief with an unhelpful behaviour (drinking, eating, scrolling), then you can train it to seek a better one!
You can interrupt that pattern and change the unhelpful behaviour — by working with your body and brain, not against them.
Why It Happens: The Craving + Fatigue Link
When you’re physically or mentally tired, your prefrontal cortex 🧠 (the part of the brain that handles willpower, decision-making and impulse control) is running on empty.
This means:
Cravings feel louder
Old habits feel easier
Quick fixes feel really bloody tempting
Your body is simply trying to restore balance… but it’s using outdated, unhelpful methods.
What Helped Me
I used to hit that low-energy point around 5pm.
The urge to just numb-out would creep in — and I’d feel like I was fighting a losing battle - it was so demoralising.
One of the biggest shifts for me came when I stopped tearing myself down — and started supporting my energy instead.
I realised fighting the craving in the moment wasn’t working.
Instead, I taking care of myself ahead of time, helped the cravings lose their grip.
Here’s what I put into practice - and still do:
🔹 Getting enough protein
This helps stabilise my blood sugar and stops those late afternoon crashes that made a glass of wine feel like the only answer.
🔹 Prioritising sleep
Instead of pushing through exhaustion or numbing it, I accept that rest isn’t optional — it’s essential. Everything feels harder when I don’t get my 8 hours.
🔹 Building small, healthy habits
Even something as simple as going out to chat to the cows (yes, I talk to our cows… don’t judge me🥰 ) or doing a few simple yoga stretches helps me reset — physically and mentally. It gives my body what it actually needs: a moment to breathe.
A Small Shift You Can Try Today
Next time you notice the fatigue-craving combo creeping in, try this:
Put your phone down and stand up.
Drink a glass of water.
Move for 2 minutes while putting your awareness on your breath.
Then ask: What do I actually need right now?
You might be surprised at the answer.
Want to Go Deeper?
I’ll be talking about topics just like this inside The Alcohol-Free Reset - LIVE! — a week-long, FREE, live coaching experience to help you take control of your habits again and get your spark back.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in low-energy loops… you won’t want to miss it.
We start Monday June 30th 2025 and I'd love for you to join us.
"Ready to dive in?"
If you’re ready for a deeper kind of support, I offer powerful 1:1 coaching sessions fully focused on your total well-being. No fluff—just real support, tailored to YOU.
📝 Disclaimer:
The content on this blog is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am an Accredited Sober Coach, Nutrition Coach and Life Coach, but I am not a medical professional. If you are concerned about your health, mental wellbeing, or alcohol use, please speak with your GP or a qualified healthcare provider.
