What Causes Tiredness in the Morning?

Many people find it puzzling that they wake up tired in the morning. Not feeling rested is a cause for frustration, and it is important to find out what the reason is for your tiredness. According to a March 2011 publication by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Insufficient Sleep Is a Public Health Epidemic." Adequate sleep is vital to human health, functioning and even safety. The sooner you determine a cause for your morning tiredness, the sooner you can feel rested again.

Insomnia

• If you awaken tired in the morning, it is possible that you have insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder defined as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. According to MedLine Plus, one of the symptoms of insomnia is not feeling refreshed when you wake up in the morning and feeling tired throughout the day. If you have a difficulty falling asleep at night or find that you toss and turn all night long, you may have a mild case of insomnia. Insomnia can be diagnosed by a physician or sleep specialist.

Inconsistent Schedule

• It is important to get a consistent amount of sleep every night. An inconsistent sleep schedule can cause your body to not feel tired one night or feel overly tired the next night. Try putting yourself on a schedule so that you go to sleep at approximately the same time each night and wake up at the same time every morning. You may find that by doing so, you are more rested in the mornings and not as drowsy.

Stressors

• Life stressors can interrupt your sleep and cause you to feel tired in the morning. Anxiety, depression, grief, work stress and marital problems contribute to your inability to relax and unwind for a peaceful slumber. Learning how to identify and manage your stress will allow you to sleep better at night so that you feel rested when you awaken. Some examples of stress management include exercising, eating a healthy diet, seeking outside support and meditating.

Illness

• Your body can be fighting off an illness or infection; you may feel groggy in the morning from all the overtime your body is putting into the immunity battle. Colds and flu cause people to wake up tired even after many hours of sleep. If you have allergies or anemia, these conditions can cause you to be tired in the morning.

Insufficient Quantity of Sleep

• Many people simply do not get an adequate amount of sleep during the week and feel tired in the mornings because of it. Sleep deprivation makes it difficult for your body to recover and re-energize to the level it needs, giving you a sense of fatigue. If you want to be less tired when you awaken, allow yourself to get more sleep. Get approximately the same amount of sleep each night to feel fully rested.