I’m not sure I know anyone who doesn’t feel tired anymore – there’s more to do in a day than any of us have time to do, and there’s enough going on in the world to make it feel like you’ll never truly Keep up. But there’s a difference between mental exhaustion and actually feeling like you’re having trouble sleeping. If you find yourself wondering, “Why do I feel tired when I wake up after eight hours of sleep?” it might mean you need to make some changes—your sleep environment, your diet, or your bedtime routine. In some cases, you may need the expertise of a doctor. Start here.

Think about how much sleep you need versus how much sleep you get, and whether the sleep you get is good.

This may seem obvious, but think about it: did you actually sleep for eight hours, or did you spend eight hours in bed (meaning you took some time to fall asleep)? Make sure you have enough buffer time to get comfortable and doze off so you can take the full eight Knocked down within hours.

There are also people who just need more Z. Hussain said different people need different amounts of sleep, with a normal range being six to nine hours. Maybe you’re a nine-year-old.

The next thing to consider is sleep quality.

“Just because you fell asleep, it doesn’t mean you got good quality sleep. Sleep quality depends on a lot of different factors,” Hussey said. “One of the simplest things we often overlook is our sleeping environment. Do we have a comfortable bed? Is our environment quiet? Is the environment comfortable, dark, or does it have a night light if you prefer? You Do you have pets at home?

Fortunately, these are things you can change. Of course, for parents, your child may also be waking up frequently during the night, which isn’t always within your control. “So even if you have eight hours, it’s a disrupted eight hours,” Hussein admitted.

Align your behavior with sleep hygiene.

You know what doesn’t help prepare your brain for a good night’s rest? Watch about 50 TikToks about the world burning before you put your phone on your nightstand and close your eyes.

Start by putting your devices away before bedtime, Hussain says. Don’t work until bedtime and then try to pass out, or exercise too late in the evening to rejuvenate your body. Engage in relaxing daily activities to help you relax.

Ask your doctor if your prescription may interfere with your sleep.

Hussain points out that some medications, including those designed to help you fall asleep, can actually reduce the amount of deep REM sleep you get.

“Many people are unable to achieve deep sleep if they take certain medications, so they may not feel as rested as they would during normal deep sleep. Many sedatives and sleeping medications often give you filler sleep, or lighter stages of sleep. That reduction comes at the expense of deep sleep, so even if you get more sleep, that doesn’t always equate to getting high-quality sleep,” he said.

Certain medications can also disrupt your sleep if you take them before bed. Discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider and ask if any of your prescription medications may be the cause of your waking up feeling sluggish.

Take a break from drinking.

“If you drink alcohol late at night, it may affect your sleep. Alcohol causes people to fall asleep quickly, but it puts people into a very light stage of sleep, and once it leaves your body in about four hours, it tends to It wakes you up in the middle of the night, so you might end up going to bed and getting eight hours of sleep, but the quality of your sleep is poor,” Hussain said.

Check in with your mental health and get support if you need it.

Hussain says your mental health can directly impact your sleep. “When you suffer from depression and anxiety, many times when you are about to fall asleep, you will start to think and worry about what happened yesterday or what happened today, what will I do tomorrow? These will affect the quality of sleep. Quite a few things, if this happens, can prompt people to seek medical attention.

If you still feel tired when you wake up, talk to your doctor.

The beauty of trying to improve your sleep is that you should see results quickly, Hussain says. If you notice a problem, you may wake up within a month feeling rested quickly and feeling better overall.

If you’ve checked all of these boxes, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor. They may be able to determine what’s disrupting your sleep and can evaluate whether you have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

“If you’re snoring so loudly that it’s disrupting not only your own sleep but your partner’s sleep, then changing your mattress or turning off the lights or anything like that isn’t going to make it any better. If you have symptoms Restless legs syndrome should also be evaluated,” Hussain said.

Interestingly, restless legs syndrome—a neurological condition that makes you feel the need to move your legs—tends to appear during labor for many new mothers. Sleep apnea, on the other hand, can occur at any time. Just because you’ve never had this disorder before doesn’t mean it might not be the culprit for your current sleep problems.

Pain can also affect sleep quality. Any ongoing pain that keeps you awake should be discussed with your doctor. “The pain doesn’t just happen during the day. It’s always there and it affects your sleep,” Hussain said.

There are many causes of sleep deprivation, but for every potential problem, there is a solution. So don’t be afraid to try blackout curtains and a new mattress cover, or talk to your doctor if all else fails.