# Why do we rub our eyes and stratch our heads when we're tired? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132 "2002-09-05T13:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/1 "2002-09-05T13:57:44Z")
I was observing the GrizzCub the other night. He wanted to stay awake and was fighting off sleep. I noticed that he kept rubbing his eyes and rubbing/scratching his head. I know that when I’m tired that I tend to run my fingers through my hair, scratching my scalp as I do so. Is this a semi-involuntary reaction to help us stay awake? I would think that something likening to a scalp-massage would be more apt to help someone fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/2 "2002-09-05T23:07:53Z")
perhaps the rubbing/scratching helps to increase blood flow? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/3 "2002-09-05T23:43:35Z")
One thing I notice about myself is that when I get sleepy, my eyes get dry. Possibly this is a side effect of my fighting to keep them open, and thus somewhat upsetting the normal blinking frequency. (Hey, I just used the word _blinking_ and it wasn’t a euphemism.) Anyway, as the good folks at Visine have been telling us for years, dry eyes are itchy eyes. As to the head scratching, well … that’s a head-scratcher. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/4 "2002-09-06T01:31:31Z")
For that matter, why do we scratch our backs first thing in the morning when we’re standing in the bathroom and contemplating the day ahead. Or is it just me? It is? OK forget I said anything. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/5 "2002-09-06T04:40:59Z")
i like to scratch all over. all, um… over. cough. good question, \*\*GrizzRich \*\*. jb ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/6 "2002-09-06T13:48:25Z")
Why do we rub our bellies and pat our heads when we’re tired? What? (We really need a “looking around, ‘did I just say that’” smiley.) ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-rub-our-eyes-and-stratch-our-heads-when-were-tired/127132/7 "2002-09-08T01:29:43Z")
might Unca Cecil be interested in this one? hmmmmm…?