Waking up exhausted

Lately, I’ve been waking up feeling absolutely trashed... like I didn't even sleep at all. It takes forever to actually feel human again later in the day, but honestly, I don't know. Does anyone actually have any advice for this? Anything at all?

Make sure you actually use the night for sleeping—don't stay up too late only to sleep in way too long, because all that light exposure really messes with your melatonin synthesis, doesn't it? And let me tell you, trying to catch up on sleep in the afternoon is a losing battle. Chronic night owls often end up struggling with their immune systems... and other things, too. Use the sunlight during the day instead.

Avoid heavy meals for dinner, though that certainly doesn't mean you should head to bed on an empty stomach.

Pick up an anatomical pillow—oh, if I had the extra cash lying around right now, I’d buy one in a heartbeat! I've slept on them a few times before and felt absolutely fresh as a daisy the next morning.

Air out your room before you turn in for the night.

Don't go overboard with the coffee; instead, try having some fresh juice in the morning or perhaps a bit of fruit. Or maybe a tea with plenty of lemon—honey is definitely a better choice than refined sugar, wouldn't you agree? Also, stay hydrated; drinking enough water really helps ensure your brain gets the oxygen it needs.

Take a warm shower after you wake up to help relax those tense muscles—and honestly, there's no harm in a little aromatherapy, is there? Just add a few drops of some citrus essential oil to your shower gel.

Give your feet a gentle massage before bed; they really don't like it when you forget about them.

coppergardener said:Get some sleep. Don't stay up too late only to sleep in the next morning—too much light exposure messes with your melatonin synthesis, and you can't exactly make up for lost sleep during the afternoon. Chronic night owls often end up dealing with weakened immune systems... and other issues, too. Use the daylight to your advantage while it's here.

I was just about to say, "Aha! So that’s why!"—until I remembered that I sleep in a blackout room, so the light levels shouldn't actually be an issue for me. Turns out, I’m dealing with the exact same struggle. Those tips are solid, though! I’m planning to try almost all of them—except for the part about cutting out coffee and staying up until noon... that one might be a bridge too far.👍

I suppose eating sugar late at night isn't ideal either...

And on top of that... I take forever to fall asleep. My brain just won't shut up, spinning through total nonsense... everything from college stress and studying to things I can't even put a finger on.

It’s true... I don't exactly hit the hay early. Usually around 1 AM... plus it takes me at least half an hour to actually drift off. So, whenever I wake up tomorrow (which is usually around 9 because my internal clock is a beast), I feel like absolute garbage.

I only grab coffee when I'm heading out downtown during the day... which doesn't happen much... or maybe if I absolutely have to pull an all-nighter studying, though I try not to do that too often.

I keep my window wide open day and night, so I've got plenty of fresh air. 👍

My room is pitch black, too, so the light doesn't mess with me.

Honestly, I think it helps that I've been completely overwhelmed with school lately. I keep obsessing over how to get everything finished by the end of June, but we all know that's basically impossible. It's the same loop playing in my head right before bed, and it's killing me. 😠

Do you usually watch TV or hang out on the computer right before bed? I personally find that I sleep much better if I stay away from the screen—I try to give myself at least 30 minutes of downtime before turning in

Yeah, see a therapist. You’re clearly stressed out. Try to deal with it. You need to be getting seven to eight hours of sleep every single night. Stop doomscrolling on your computer or tossing and turning in bed—just sleep. If you can't manage that, then you've got some underlying psychological issues to sort out.

Harold Booth68 said:Do you watch TV or stay on the computer before bed? I sleep way better if I haven't been staring at a screen. I try to stay off the computer for at least 30 minutes before hitting the sack.

I’m basically glued to my computer all day... or so it feels. My laptop is running constantly with music playing in the background... I’m always jumping on to browse the web or mess around with stuff. Then usually in the evening, I’ll catch some TV since that's when I actually have free time... or I'm stuck on the laptop doing CAD drawings.

It’s the exact same struggle for me... I honestly can't remember the last time I felt truly rested. Even when I manage to get ten hours of "sleep," I still wake up feeling like I've been run over by a semi-truck. I think I know exactly what's causing it, though—it's the constant stress, my nerves being constantly on edge, and the way I tend to put an immense amount of pressure on myself. I just have this inability to actually unwind. Most nights, no matter how exhausted I am, it takes at least an hour of tossing and turning before I finally drift off.
The only time I seem to fall asleep instantly is if I've had a couple of beers to take the edge off.😁

So, the most important thing here is that you really need to find a way to decompress—you seem incredibly wound up... honestly, I’m at a bit of a loss for words, and I don't quite know how else to put this. Sometimes, sipping on a calming herbal tea can do wonders (think chamomile, lemon balm, or maybe some lavender...); even those soothing baby blends with fennel and anise can help, along with a little essential oil in a diffuser. A bit of orange oil can clear a foggy mind, while lavender or melissa are great for settling the nerves—lemon is lovely too, though I usually prefer it during the day rather than right before bed. Just lie down for thirty seconds and take 8 to 10 deep, deliberate breaths; I have this terrible habit of breathing very shallowly, and frankly, some people just have to actually learn how to breathe properly.

Are you getting enough movement in? If you can get a little stroll in or do some light stretching, you'll likely find it much easier to unwind and drift off later—just make sure you aren't hitting the gym right before you try to hit the sack.

By the way, I live in this classic, tiny dorm room—about 6 by 6 feet—where I've managed to cram in a TV, my laptop, a microwave, a mini-fridge, a hot plate, a water heater, and a few other bits and pieces; so, naturally, everything is practically hovering over my head while I sleep. I've realized that I feel significantly more exhausted if I leave everything "on" or even just on "standby"—it's like I'm surrounded by an electromagnetic storm (haven't you ever noticed how a radio or a computer still makes that faint buzzing sound even when they're just idling?). It would be a good idea to get into the habit of clicking the power button on the TV, definitely toggle the wireless switch off on your laptop, and just unplug the microwave or radio cord from the wall entirely; honestly, having a lamp sitting right next to your pillow isn't exactly the smartest move either.

coppergardener said:Look, the main thing is you’ve gotta chill out—you're way too wound up. I don't even know what to tell you; it's hard for me to wrap my head around it too. Sometimes a little calming tea helps (think chamomile, lemon balm, lavender stuff...), or maybe some baby teas like fennel & anise. Or even essential oils in a diffuser—orange clears the head, lavender and melissa soothe the nerves, and lemon is nice, though I'd stick to daytime for that one. Just lie down for thirty seconds and take 8 to 10 deep breaths. I personally breathe way too shallowly, and honestly, some people just have to actually learn how to breathe.

Are you moving enough during the day? If you get a little stroll in or stretch out, you'll find it easier to unwind and crash later, but don't go hitting the gym right before bed.

By the way, I live in this classic tiny dorm room—like a 6x6 box where I've crammed a TV, laptop, microwave, mini-fridge, kettle, hot water heater, and a bunch of other junk. Everything is basically hovering over my head while I sleep. I realized I feel totally trashed if I leave everything "on" or even just on "standby." It’s like an electromagnetic storm is happening right above me (you ever notice how a radio or computer still makes that faint hum even when they're just idling?). It would be a good idea to get used to clicking the power button on the TV, definitely kill the Wi-Fi switch on your laptop, or unplug the microwave/radio cord from the wall. Even having a lamp right next to your pillow isn't the smartest move.

This is actually 100% true. I remember back in high school, my physics teacher used to explain that we'd sleep way more peacefully if we just unplugged everything from the outlets. I was so confused for the next two days until I realized I actually slept like a baby that night. Now, it's just a habit.
I've also noticed I sleep much better when my room is "reset." Clean sheets, no random papers scattered everywhere, maybe my mom sprays a bit of lavender 😉 ...and so on.
Lately, I've been waking up feeling groggy because I'm just not a fan of spring and the stress that comes with it, so a cup of tea before bed or some warm milk, if that's your thing, helps quite a bit.

Good grief, how on earth am I supposed to upload a video without everything turning into a complete disaster 😁
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