‘I want to sleep, but my body won’t let me!’
‘Why am I tried but still can’t sleep?’
If you’ve ever found yourself asking the questions above, you might have an irregular sleep cycle. The feeling of laying in bed for hours but somehow being unable to sleep isn’t foreign. Most of us have experienced it at least once in our lives.
But if you frequently try to sleep with your eyes closed but still can’t seem to sleep, it might be due to an underlying sleep disorder.
Why Am I Tired But Can’t Sleep?
There are countless reasons why you might feel too tired to sleep at night. The inability to sleep can vary significantly from your sleep hygiene and routine to your health.
Nonetheless, mentioned below are some common causes behind this phenomenon. If you can’t sleep at night but can during the day, it could be due to the following reasons:
Long Naps
Naps provide various health benefits, but they can mess with your body clock when you nap for too long. This will leave you unable to sleep at night, causing you to lie restless. Try following a nap schedule of 20-30 minutes for a natural energy boost instead.
Anxiety or Stress
When your head is muddled with restless energy and thoughts, sleep is the last thing to take you out. Anxiety can play a huge part in keeping you away from a good night’s sleep. In fact, it can lead to severe sleep disorders instead. That is why it is helpful to meditate and destress before your bedtime.
Hormonal Imbalance
Some factors of sleep deprivation are out of control. Menstruation and menopause are the prime reasons why people suffer from lost sleep, despite being tired and sleepy.
Caffeine
You’ve probably heard of all the myths, and the truth is, they’re not just myths but facts. Caffeine is a stimulant, so ingesting a high dose of caffeine right before you go to sleep can set your sleeping schedule off balance. Try to limit your caffeine intake and avoid having it at least six to eight hours before you sleep.
Excessive Screen Time
Using your phone for too long can affect your eyesight and overall health. It can even alter your nightly sleep routine. This is why it’s recommended to set aside your phones, tablets, laptops, and other digital screens. Make sure that you’re not being influenced by blue light for at least one hour before heading to bed.
Insomnia
Insomnia is the biggest reason why people suffer from sleep deprivation. No matter how tired you are, you will find yourself unable to get some shut-eye. This is because insomnia gets triggered by the smallest factors around you and disrupts your sleep.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder
This is a sleeping disorder that revolves around your body’s internal sleep clock. It’s what tells you when to sleep and wake up. Thus, when your circadian clock gets out of sync, it leads to an irregular sleeping pattern.
What To Do If You Can’t Fall Asleep
The feeling of wanting to sleep but being too tired to actually get some shut-eye can exhaust you of your energy. Sometimes, its effects can leave you in a state of delirium. So much so that even if you didn’t sleep at all last night, you might not feel tired the next day.
If that’s the case, try incorporating the following tips into your daily routine to help you sleep better.
- Turn off your cell phone and all other digital screens one hour before sleeping.
- Take part in calming activities before bedtime, like meditation, reading books, etc.
- Keep your bedroom dark and your bedding comfortable.
- Use a humidifier when sleeping.
- Change your sleeping position.
- Visit a sleep therapist.
Why Not Give Sleep Therapy A Try?
If you constantly find yourself asking, ‘why am I tired but can’t sleep?’ the answer might lie in your sleeping habits. Nevertheless, in case of a sleeping disorder or serious sleep deprivation, visit a sleep consultant. For more information, contact Sleep & Headache Solutions at (832) 688-8886. You can also find us at 13114 Farm to Market 1960 Rd West Suite 105 B, Houston, TX 77065, situated inside the Memorial Hermann Medical Group Center.