# Why am I so tired? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731 "2003-01-30T22:07:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/1 "2003-01-30T22:07:15Z")
For the past while (maybe two months or so?) I’ve been tired, and I’m tired of being tired. Not like, interfere with normal life (although I really don’t need the help dozing off during chem class) exhaustion, but just tired. Constantly. I’m sixteen, and as far as I know, completely healthy. I’m a vegetarian, but have been for the past four years (not a vegan, I eat dairy). I work out in tae kwon do for an hour every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and make an effort to at least go for a mile walk (usually home from school, but it counts) on the other days, sometimes I do both. And I don’t think I’m not sleeping well. It’s not like I remember waking up a million times every night. I usually go to bed at about 11:30 - 12:00, and get up at about six, which should be enough sleep. It does vary a bit by how much homework I have, but it’s never earlier than ten thirty when I get to bed. I usually fall asleep within an hour, sometimes it takes a li’l longer. Same as it has been since at least September. Yet recently, I’m tired. No idea why, but I just constantly feel kind of lethargic, and it’s REALLY hard to get out of bed in the morning (of course, that could be due to living in a poorly-insulated 100-year-old house and the fact that the average 6 AM temp in my room during winter is somewhere in the high forties. Yes, I have a thermometer in my room…). And it’s starting to get really annoying. So. Any suggestions as to what’s causing this/what I can do about it? ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/2 "2003-01-30T22:09:50Z")
WAG, I’d look at the diet, or look to vitamins. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/3 "2003-01-30T22:51:10Z")
Some people need more than 6.5 hours sleep each night (I know I’m one of them) maybe you are too. It’s often more difficult getting up in Winter (due mostly to the Dark mornings) so it may be just that. Pressure at school can also affect your energy levels, do you find yourself more tired on days when you have lots of work to do, or on quiet days? Cheers, Bippy ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/4 "2003-01-30T23:02:58Z")
Yes, **Bippy** is right. At sixteen, most people need 8 to 9 hours of sleep. The need decreases with age. Do you feel better if you sleep late several days in a row? If not, it could be nutritional, as **Zagadka** says. It is easier to become deficient in certain nutrients on a vegetarian diet than on an omnivorous diet. It _could_ also be something more serious, so if it persists, you should probably have a check up. It doesn’t sound like it’s too serious, though, if you have the energy to practice tae kwon do. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/5 "2003-01-30T23:15:24Z")
I’d guess you need more sleep. Even though I can _function_ just fine on six hours of sleep a night, I feel exactly like you describe: getting out of bed is extremely difficult and frequently feeling tired. When I get 8-8.5 hours per night, I feel a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/6 "2003-01-30T23:16:07Z")
drinking plenty of water helps numerous abnormalities. the biggest deal is you are probably not getting enough sleep. i was always tired growing up and i never got more than 7 hours, usually less. shoot for 9 hours and spread your meals throughout the day evenly. o yeah, do NOT eat very much sugar. sugar will run you into the ground. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/7 "2003-01-30T23:20:44Z")
Well, you didn’t mention this, so I’ll ask: How heavy is your period? When I was around 16 I developed a pretty nasty case of anemia, just because I bled too much each month. Inquire with your Dr. You could just need an iron suplement. (That fixed the problem for me.) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/8 "2003-01-30T23:32:14Z")
Sleep more, and try a multi-vitamin tab. Other suggestions here are good, so look into them. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/9 "2003-01-30T23:35:29Z")
Alice - actually, I doubt it’s anemia caused by that - my period is usually pretty moderate. Actually, I’m currently a few days overdue (almost a week) - I doubt it’s anything to stress about, though. (And btw, I know that there is absolutely no possibility of pregnancy!) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/10 "2003-01-30T23:38:03Z")
Actually, IIRC, vegetarians are at a higher risk for B vitamin deficiencies. You might want to look into that, maybe talk to your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/11 "2003-01-30T23:43:03Z")
Well, **Ninja** , I presume (unless you and your friends are WAY more open than me and my friends ever were) the only gauge you have to how heavy your period is, is… your period. Meaning, I assumed that mine was pretty par for the course as well, and it probably was. However, if you’re vegie, and getting limited iron in your diet, it doesn’t take a huge blood loss to become anaemic. Just check it out, anyhow. 🙂 We can’t have you dozing when you’re supposed to be kicking someone’s butt. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-tired/151731/12 "2003-01-31T00:57:50Z")
It could be a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Sometimes in the winter, I get a bit draggy myself. Some things I have seen recommended include using a tanning bed, or other source of faux sunlight, which can sometimes perk you up a bit.