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‘Too exhausted to stay awake but too active to sleep’ Sounds familiar?

Overtiredness is a paradoxical condition where you’re exhausted during the day but struggle to sleep at night.

A woman sleeping on her front looking towards the camera in bed looking tired from not sleeping

What does being overtired mean?

Our fast-paced lifestyle and multiple commitments has made us evolve into a restless society.

Overtiredness sends your brain into an active mode which can lead to sleep deprivation if not addressed in time.

A woman stifles a yawn as she looks out of the window during her commute

This mainly happens when we continuously delay or ignore the natural urge to sleep, also termed sleep pressure.

For adults, this process takes about 14-16 hours while in children, sleep pressure builds up more quickly.

This is why babies often fall asleep after being awake for an hour or two.

A blonde woman wearing a blue t-shirt and pink eye mask on her forehead with messy bun sitting in bed as she stretches her arms overhead, waking up early to join the 5am club

The key is to prepare your mind and body for bedtime.

This signals the body to relax and will promote restful sleep," says Dr Kaylor.

Stick to a consistent sleep schedule

This is perhaps the most important step for a good night’s sleep.

A woman with dark hair lies in bed yawning because she is so tired and ready to sleep

The easiest method is to shift yoursleep by 20 minuteseach day until you reach your desired sleep time.

This means that even after five hours of consuming it, half of the caffeine remains in your system.

“Caffeines stimulatory effects can significantly delay your ability to fall asleep.

A woman lies in bed with her hands covering her face, looking upset due to sleep deprivation. A Tom�s Guide Sleep Week 2025 graphic, bottom left

Create a calm and comfortable environment

Having a conducive sleep environment is integral for an uninterrupted night’s rest.

Keep away external distractions like ambient light and noise using earplugs,blackout curtainsor a white noise machine.

Stick to a ‘no screen rule’ during your winddown time to minimize exposure to blue light.

A sleep week badge in the corner of a picture that depicts a woman smiling as she is getting more sleep.

A woman with long brown hair sits up in bed covered in a pink comforter and yawns because she is so sleep deprived

A woman with dark brown hair lies on her side staring at the back of a white alarm clock that shows the time as 2.30am

The image shows a sleep deprived woman lying in bed and holding her hands over her eyes

A chocolate Easter egg in pink tin foil next to image of blonde woman in purple star patterned pyjamas struggling to sleep in bed with white sheets

Woman lying down on the bed and smiling feeling comfortable

A woman lying on her side sleeping with a handdrawn thought bubble over her head to show she�s thinking

A woman with short brown hair sitting on bed with white sheets with a glass of green Spirulina smoothie in hand

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