Tired Even After a Full Night’s Sleep?

Have you ever gotten eight hours of sleep, woken up, and thought, “I could honestly go right back to bed”?

Wow do I know that feeling! Between the farm, the offices, and everything else life throws at me, sometimes sleep feels like just another item on my to-do list.

But here's something worth thinking about: sleeping and getting restorative sleep aren't necessarily the same thing.

Your body does some of its most important maintenance work while you're sleeping. It's a time for recovery, tissue repair, and supporting the systems that keep you functioning throughout the day.

So what happens when you spend enough time in bed but still wake up exhausted?

Stress, an inconsistent sleep schedule, frequent waking, and sleep disorders can all interfere with the quality of your rest. Sometimes, even when we think we're sleeping well, our bodies aren't getting the recovery they need.

And persistent fatigue isn't something we should automatically chalk up to getting older or simply having too much to do.

Here's your Monday Minute takeaway: Pay attention to how you feel when you wake up, not just how many hours you slept.

If you're consistently exhausted despite getting enough sleep, it's worth talking with your healthcare provider to look for the underlying cause.

If you're not quite ready for that...look at your bedtime habits.

Try to stay off your phone for at least an hour before bed. Screens and stimulating content can make it harder to wind down and fall asleep. You should avoid TV, too...but I'm not one to preach about that! 😂 Still, if you're trying to build better bedtime habits, why not give it a try?

Does your mind race with things you have to do? Want to do? Should do? Keep a notebook bedside and write down what's weighing on your mind. Prioritizing them is best. You can relax knowing you've written everything down and can tackle it tomorrow! I did this for years during school and when I opened my first business...it's a miracle worker!

Deep breathing. Slow, deep breathing helps your body shift out of that constant state of alertness and into a more relaxed state that's better suited for sleep. When your body is constantly on edge your brain won't settle in for the evening. Take 4-5 breaths in and out deeply as you're about to settle in. Give it a try — you may be surprised how much it helps you unwind.

Doing one or more of these will help develop great habits for your brain and give your whole nervous system the break it needs to heal and replenish its reserves.

Because taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's how you keep showing up for everyone and everything you love.

Until next Monday, get some sleep!

— Dr. Lara ❤️💤