Why Do I Wake Up Tired?

“Sleep is like the golden chain that binds our health and body together.” ~ Thomas Dekker

“I was in bed for 12 hours last night. How am I so tired today?”

How many reading this have experienced this kind of phenomenon as it relates to their sleep?

*Raises hand*

Maybe you go weeks where you’re pushing hard to meet a work deadline, sleeping limited hours, taking the occasional nap, and feeling low on energy.

Then, once the deadline has passed, you have more time for sleep, so now you’re getting your regular 8-9 hours every night but still feel exhausted.

What’s the deal?

Here are 3 Causes of Morning Sleepiness

1. Something Kept Your Heart Rate Up

If you wear or use some form of sleep tracking device (if you don’t make sure to read the end of this article), you know that occasionally you get a message in the morning which reads,

“Low readiness due to elevated heart rate.”

Of course, all devices may use different lingo, but the point remains the same.

Something kept your heart rate elevated throughout the night, leaving you with poor sleep quality and tiredness when you wake up.

A few things that can cause your heart rate to become elevated and remain that way through the night are:

  • Late Exercise

  • Late Calorie Intake (with 2 hours of sleep)

  • Hot Bath (though this can carry some sleep benefits as well)

  • Illness

  • Argument or Difficult Conversation with a Loved One

  • Bedroom Temperature

  • Noise Disturbances

  • Snoring/Apnea/Sleep Disorders

When your heart rate remains elevated during sleep, your body and brain cannot perform the restorative functions they are designed to do.

This will, in most cases, leave you feeling groggy and unrested in the morning.

If this is the case, consider one of the above options to keep your heart rate down to prepare for quality sleep.

2. Your Sleep Schedule is Inconsistent

When I’m talking with clients, I love to use the lame and comical phrase,

“Consistency breeds consistency.”

Essentially, when you are consistent with your habits (either good or bad), you will be consistent in your results (good or bad).

When you go to sleep and wake up randomly, your body and brain don’t have a consistent rhythm (circadian rhythm) to depend on.

Without a developed circadian rhythm, the body and brain cannot follow a routine pattern of rest and recovery.

If your schedule is all over the place, consider developing windows of time where you can sleep and wake up regularly.

With a schedule your body and brain can depend on, a cascade of responses can begin to promote better energy upon rising in the morning.

3. You Are Under a Lot of Stress

Chronic stress blows everything up.

Sleep, exercise, relationships, you name it. Stress can crush it.

When you’re under chronic stress, regardless of the cause, your body and brain literally cannot rest.

You must teach them how to come out of stress and rest.

Chronic stress often leads to an irregular release of cortisol, “the stress hormone”.

When cortisol is released, you feel awake and alert. This isn’t the best thing to feel at 2 a.m.

Our brains were designed to release cortisol in the morning hours to help us rise from sleep with energy to face the day.

Chronic stress promotes the release of cortisol at all hours of the day. Leaving us feeling fatigued, restless, and irritable.

If chronic stress is a struggle for you, consider the following ways to mitigate it:

  • Deep breathing practices

  • Meditation

  • Exercise

  • Sauna use

  • Walks in nature

  • Talking with a loved one – preferably one that doesn’t cause you to feel stressed :)

  • And many more…

If this topic relates to you and you’re not measuring your sleep quality using a sleep-tracking device, this would be an excellent time to begin.

If you don’t know what’s going on with your sleep and wake up feeling tired, you’re simply guessing solutions.

At Tiger Medical, testing and sleep-tracking devices take the guessing out of the equation.

Next Steps to Overcoming Tiredness

You have what it takes inside you to make a definite choice that will change the future trajectory of your health.

Our team at Tiger Medical has the experience, clinical skills, and coaching acumen to help you get your health and energy back.

For further reading, view the following articles on our learning center:

To talk to one of our professionals, click here to schedule your call!

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A Word From Our Founder, Steve Adams

Hey there! I'm Steve

I spent 20 years in high-pressure corporate banking, constantly traveling and neglecting my health. By 50, I was sleep-deprived, getting only 2-3 hours of sleep despite lying in bed for six hours. I suffered from acid reflux, IBS, cramping, constipation, anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog, affecting my performance and relationships.

Then I found a Functional Medicine Doctor

He conducted extensive testing on genetics, gut biome health, and hormones. He discovered several issues and created a personalized medical plan and coached me for a year on lifestyle changes. The results were transformative!

Today, I feel like a new person. I can engage in high-intensity interval training, weight lifting, and running without any symptoms. Inspired by this journey, I founded Tiger Medical Institute to help others achieve similar health transformations - to help you live healthier, better life!

START HERE