40 Winks and Looking For 40 More – Why Are You Tired Even If You Slept Well?
You go to sleep at a good time.
You follow every sleep hygiene tip that you’ve ever encountered.
You don’t snooze your alarm (thus avoiding making yourself feel worse when you do eventually get up).
So… why are you still exhausted?
It’s a mystery that plagues more people than you realize. It’s estimated that up to half the population have a problem with getting enough sleep to feel rested. There have been numerous theories presented for why this happens, from the effects of electric blue light to the simple reality of rushed modern life. In the end, though, the theories don’t change anything. You’re not feeling rested despite no obvious reason for it – so what’s going on?
- You’re Going To Bed When You’re Not Tired
Many of us are guilty of going to bed not when we feel tired, but when the clock says we have to. This should be a good thing; in fact, it’s recommended as part of good sleep practice to go to sleep at the same time every night.
But if you go to bed when you’re not tired, then you’re going to toss and turn. This is bad for you; it keeps your brain active and exacerbates the problem.
SOLUTION: If you can’t sleep within 15 minutes of trying, get up and do a calm activity such as reading or sewing. Then try again.
- You Have An Undiagnosed Sleep Disorder
The primary culprit for tiredness when sleep hygiene is observed is sleep apnea. The condition, which involves stopping breathing while you sleep, impacts millions of lives every year – but only a small percentage are diagnosed. Thankfully, when you have identified the problem, it’s easy to manage.
Sleep apnea aside, there is a multitude of circadian rhythm disorders which can impact the quality of your sleep. One of the most pernicious is often referred to as a Reverse Sleep Cycle; i.e. you want to be awake at night and asleep during the day. It’s a natural desire that just doesn’t fit with modern life and can wreak havoc on people’s lives.
SOLUTION: Speak to a doctor if you have been experiencing problems for six months or more. Testing is relatively simple. Options such as Sleeptech.ca sleep apnea treatment can bring a lot of relief.
- You Have Nutrient Deficiencies
No matter how well you sleep, you rely on food to give you energy and sustain it through the day. If you are deficient in a vital vitamin, then this becomes impossible.
Conditions like B12 deficiency sound benign but can damage your entire life. B12 is difficult to absorb via food, so if you have any gastrointestinal issues, it’s worth checking your B12 levels.
SOLUTION: A full vitamin blood screen. If deficiencies are identified, it means you’re not absorbing the goodness from the food you eat. No matter how good your diet is or how rigorous you are with sleep hygiene, if you’re low on an essential vitamin, it will impact your daily life. Luckily, once again, the treatments are simple when you have been diagnosed.
