Why Are We Still Tired Even After Sleeping?
Why are we still tired even after sleeping?
That was the question Derek Tan, co-founder of Be, asked me when we sat down for a podcast conversation. One that got me reflecting after spending years navigating it myself as a caregiver, and observing people around me struggle with sleep that is non-restorative.
We often focus on the night. But the day holds plenty of clues about why tiredness persists.
Sleep duration matters. Yet focusing only on the number of hours can mean we miss what we’re carrying from the day into the night.
Many of us move through packed days on autopilot, with back-to-back meetings, caregiving, parenting and other role responsibilities. Often with little room to pause and notice the stress building up in the background.
I used to see rest as something to earn. But now I realised what stops most of us is guilt, not time.
When we don’t get space to notice what we’re carrying during the day, our thoughts can become much louder once the day activities stop. At night, those worries can take the pilot seat, leaving the mind racing just when we want to sleep.
Here’s how I make space in the day for physical and mental rest, among other types of rest:
⭐️ Gentle stretching or a short nap helps with the physical rest. Neck rotations, shoulder rolls help me to notice what tension is present and I can choose to release them.
⭐️ For mental rest, I set aside time to write down what’s worrying me, rather than trying to hold it all in my head at bedtime. Give yourself a worry time!
⭐️ Check in with mindfulness. A body scan or a few minutes of breath awareness helps me notice what’s happening in my body and mind. It doesn’t make every worry disappear, but it gives me a moment to choose how I want to respond and not let it get in the way of being present.
Taking time to nurture yourself starts with noticing what you need now and taking a pause when you can.
As we head into the final quarter of 2026, what helps you make a little space for yourself?