Research shows that most adults wake up feeling tired at least once a week. There are plenty of reasons that can cause that tired, sluggish feeling in the morning. Luckily, many of them are preventable. Here are some of the main reasons you might be waking up so tired, and what you can do about them:
Not Sleeping Enough
Most of us need about 7-9 hours of sleep a night. While many of us can do with less and still feel fine the next morning, trying to sleep for approximately 8 hours a night is the best practice.
Sleeping Too Much
At the other end of the spectrum, it’s also possible to sleep too much. Some indications that you might be oversleeping include feeling fatigued throughout the day but getting a burst of energy at night, suffering from morning headaches, and experiencing brain fog.
Not Getting High-Quality Sleep
If you consistently clock 8 hours of sleep but still wake up feeling tired, it could mean that you aren’t getting good-quality sleep. There are four different sleep stages, REM and non-REM deep sleep— the stages where our brains get to rest and recharge. To promote deeper sleep, turn down your thermostat, use a white noise machine to drown out any noise, or try a sleep-promoting supplement like magnesium.
Sleep Schedule Is All Over The Place
Our bodies love consistency. To get into a good rhythm, try setting an alarm one hour before you want to get into bed to remind yourself to start getting ready and winding down.
On Your Phone Too Late
Looking at blue light too much when you are close to sleep can mess with your circadian rhythm, and these days scrolling usually just gets you excited or in a state of dread—none of which are favorable to deep, restorative sleep.