<p>Generally, people fail to distinguish between fatigue-physical tiredness and sleepiness, the inability to stay awake.</p>
<p>It&#39;s possible to feel <strong>tired</strong> physically and still be unable to fall asleep, simply because you don&#39;t feel <strong>sleepy</strong>.</p>

The difference between tiredness and sleepiness

<p>To fall asleep, you need adequate time to unwind, even if you feel tired. <strong>Most people don&#39;t allow themselves enough time to relax before bed.</strong></p>
<p>Lack of sleep makes it worse. <strong>When you get less sleep than the recommended 7 to 8 hours a night, you begin to accrue a sleep debt</strong>. Your body experiences a stress response and begins to release adrenaline, which stimulates your body to be alert. To overcome this, you need a good night&#39;s sleep on a regular basis.</p>

How to fall asleep

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

health

Health

entertainment

Entertainment

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

<ul><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.popsci.com/topright/"><span>subscribe </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://x.mail.bonnier-subscriptions.com/ats/url.aspx/?cr=923&amp;wu=1&amp;viewid=psc&amp;loc=hamburger&amp;lnk=newsletter-sign-up"><span>newsletter sign up </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.popsci.com/give-a-gift/"><span>give a gift </span> </a> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.popsci.com/coronavirus/"><span>coronavirus </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/science/"><span>science </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/technology/"><span>technology </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/diy/"><span>diy </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/health/"><span>health </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/goods/"><span>goods </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="/popular-science-podcasts/"><span>podcasts </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/popscivideo/?sub_confirmation=1"><span>video </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://shop.popsci.com/"><span>popsci shop </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://popsci.threadless.com/"><span>popular science merch </span> </a> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><i> </i><a href="https://x.mail.bonnier-subscriptions.com/ats/url.aspx/?cr=923&amp;wu=1&amp;viewid=psc&amp;loc=hamburger&amp;lnk=em"><span>email </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/PopSci/"><span>facebook </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://twitter.com/PopSci/"><span>twitter </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="http://instagram.com/popsci/"><span>instagram </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="http://popsci.tumblr.com/"><span>tumblr </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/popularscience/"><span>pinterest </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/Popscivideo/"><span>youtube </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.snapchat.com/add/popularscience/"><span>snapchat </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/popularscience/"><span>linkedin </span> </a> </li><li><i> </i><a href="https://www.popsci.com/arcio/rss/"><span>rss </span> </a> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><div><a href="/science/">Science </a> </div> </li> </ul>

Why is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired?

<p>It's possible to feel â€œtiredâ€ physically and still be unable to fall asleep. </p>

<ul><li><div><a href="/story/sponsored-post/macro-blips-lense-kit/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/qAoBzg46gb4DE1qAIj57u374Mrw=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/QWK5I3WZKVD7JLU7PUEI5DFYAI.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><span>PopSci Shop </span> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/sponsored-post/macro-blips-lense-kit/">Add a macro lens to your smartphone with this kit </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/reviews/amazon-black-friday/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/XS0PPZT-FbqcZz32509i9BThNCY=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/QEHTFVF4V5BQJLHPIFFLJ57GSM.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/reviews/">Reviews </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/reviews/amazon-black-friday/">The best Amazon Black Friday deals: The best early deals and sales on Ring doorbells, iRobot vacuums, hair appliances, and more </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/health/coronavirus-masks-personal-safety/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/kQTp-w8ZV4ldk3n8R_hQPAQqN9g=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/SDLHAYQTCJBCTKOSZJOHTAPDVM.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/health/">Health </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/health/coronavirus-masks-personal-safety/">Masks protect the wearer from COVID-19, too </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/reviews/black-friday-tv-deals/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/8GaCzRt_lchBGD4Jxba8VLYDWYQ=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/3LW6PFCEC5DZTG3ZVSJ4QDBVIM.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/reviews/">Reviews </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/reviews/black-friday-tv-deals/">The Best Black Friday TV deals: The best early deals on Sony, Samsung, LG, and more </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/science/bigfin-squid-found-australia/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/Fv3vLVzx7H73j4VUGvmrebr8Hjc=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/3HEOUC7FZFGHXL6WJKRNQMTFYQ.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/science/">Science </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/science/bigfin-squid-found-australia/">The strange and ethereal bigfin squid just showed up off the coast of Australia </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/13-spooky-science-stories/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/7sRLWKc2mZB8czCl0sIUKHq_FzE=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/MFC6DCVMX5H3ZILC5AJ3B6OTF4.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/science/">Science </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/13-spooky-science-stories/">13 spooky science stories to celebrate Friday the 13th </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/reviews/cyber-monday/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/Qq3El5_V7bBEdQK_nOPmFaUig8A=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/45VAPXOGDZEK3N7SOGKLTJXXJY.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/reviews/">Reviews </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/reviews/cyber-monday/">The best Cyber Monday deals 2020: The best early deals at Best Buy, Target, Samsung, and more </a> </div> </div> </div> </li><li><div><a href="/story/reviews/black-friday-laptop-deals/"><figure><img src="https://www.popsci.com/resizer/sm6Or6kZswjZNeNusXgdrHTLXIQ=/50x33/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bonnier/Q7VOF3TNWFDGBOX4E7OO34GXPU.jpg"/> </figure> </a><div><div><div><a href="/reviews/">Reviews </a> </div> </div><div><a href="/story/reviews/black-friday-laptop-deals/">The best Black Friday laptop deals: The best early deals on Apple, Samsung, HP, and more </a> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><a href="http://www.popsci.com/subscribe-to-popular-science-magazine/">Subscribe to the Print Edition </a> </li><li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/popular-science/id364049283/?ls=1&amp;mt=8">Digital Edition For iOS </a> </li><li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details/?id=com.bonniercorp.pop.sci">Digital Edition For Android </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.popsci.com/renew/">Renew </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.popsci.com/cs/">Customer Service </a> </li><li><a href="/terms-of-use/">Terms of Use </a> </li><li><a href="/abuse/">Abuse </a> </li><li><a href="/contact/">Contact Us </a> </li><li><a href="/masthead/">Masthead </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.popsci.com/privacy/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy </a> </li><li><a href="https://depositphotos.com/stock-photography.html">Deposit Photos </a> </li> </ul>

<p><button>Cookie Settings </button> </p>

<p>Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Popular Science may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. </p>

<p>Copyright © 2020 Popular Science. A <a href="https://www.bonniercorp.com/">Bonnier Corporation </a>Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. </p>

Why is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? | Popular Science

The difference between tiredness and sleepiness

How to fall asleep

Andrea A.'s ideas are part of this journey:

Related collections

Similar ideas