The Most Tired Month?

Is there really a month when we are most tired? A time of the year when we manage to get even less sleep than usual? And if so, would you guess that month is January?

I was surprised, because I get my best sleep during the cold winter months. I’ve sung the praises of cold weather sleeping in Baby, It’s Cold Outside! a couple of years ago. I love winter sleeping! But in going a little deeper, January outperforming on tiredness levels does make some sense.

In January, we are just coming off the busy – and exhausting – holiday season. Maybe we’ve been eating not so healthy, slacking on our exercising, and staying up later than usual – you know – doing all that celebrating.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine™ (AASM), there are specific days when we feel more tired than usual. Two are in January, and another just escapes the first month by a matter of days, in early February. I think you know which days I’m talking about.

New Year’s Day

First day back at work in January

Monday after Superbowl

Yep. It makes total sense now, doesn’t it?

AASM conducts surveys asking how tired people feel on certain days of the year. On January 1st, 57% said they felt more tired than usual. The first day back to work after the New Year resulted in 45% feeling more tired. The Monday after Superbowl showed that 39% felt this way, “losing” out only to July 5th at 41%. And if you have a January or early February birthday, you get a quadruple whammy – 35% of respondents felt more tired the day after their special day.

Wow. Those first several weeks of the year are rough on us. Lots of fun, and we wouldn’t want to give any of it up, but we’re paying the price in lost sleep.

No one around here is going to suggest that you tone down the celebrating or leave the party early to go to bed. We can suggest some things that might mitigate that extra fatigue on these most tired days.

1. Try to get a little extra sleep in the days leading up the ones we know we’ll be extra tired. You can’t “bank” sleep, but it might not feel quite as rough if you’re well-rested going into the reveling.
2. See if you can manage a short nap on days you know you’ll be up late or partying extra hard.
3. Make sure you’re well-hydrated. We know it helps reduce the less pleasant effects of…overindulgence but being adequately hydrated makes you feel better in general. Just don’t try and squeeze in the extra water later in the day. Night-time trips to the bathroom are not a great way to feel less tired!
4. In the morning, hit yourself with some caffeine if you tolerate it well, and keep it coming throughout the day. It may make those extra-tired hours feel a bit easier.
5. Make sure you get out in the sunshine as early as you can that morning. Yes, the sun comes up later this time of year. You may not be able to do this before you get to work, but make sure to get outside at your first break time and let the sun’s rays soak in for a few minutes. And yes, the early days of the year can be dark and dreary. But getting out into natural light is better than staying in under the fluorescents or CFLs any day.

Happy New Year 2020!

Celebrate and have fun!

And get some sleep!