Did you know that being sleepy and being tired is NOT the same?… What would you think if I told you that learning to differentiate these two states can radically change your sleep habits?
We tend to use the word tiredness and sleep as if they were synonymous; an example of this is the famous phrase "I'm tired, I'm going to sleep," as if being tired equates to being sleepy. However, being tired and sleepy are entirely different states. We must learn to differentiate to better respond to our physiological needs and, eventually, prevent sleep problems. So how do we define each of these states?
Tiredness or physical fatigue refers to "discomfort caused by a more or less prolonged effort or other causes, and that sometimes produces physical [and mental] alterations" [1] such as heaviness in the different extremities (legs, arms), physical pain, memory problems and difficulties concentrating and making decisions. These sensations affect our mood, which can result in irritability, anxiety, and depression [2].
In contrast, being sleepy refers to an impending need to sleep, making it difficult to stay awake. Although drowsiness generates effects similar to fatigue (e.g. problems concentrating, making decisions, etc.), this results in uncontrollable urges to sleep, which can become risky [2]. For example, if we get sleepy while watching T.V., not much will happen, beyond neck pain from poor posture. However, if we experience sleepiness while driving or using delicate machinery, this can lead to severe accidents.
Therefore, the main difference between being sleepy and tired is that: the former leads us to sleep and fall asleep quickly (sometimes uncontrollably). While the second requires us to rest physically and mentally without sleep (e.g., relaxing and pleasurable activities).
So what does all this have to do with our quality of sleep?
When we are tired, we sometimes confuse this state with being sleepy, so we try to sleep while the body needs to rest in another way. Thus, we neither sleep nor rest and we only stress. We might even think we have sleep problems because we cannot fall asleep quickly.
In summary, knowing how to differentiate these two states might helps us understand each one better, appropriately respond to our needs, and prevent us from creating a problem that never existed.
Sweet dreams!
Referencias
[1] Real Academia Española. (2019). Fatiga. Recuperado el 20 de abril de 2020 de https://dle.rae.es/fatiga
[2] Carney, C. E., & Manber, R. (2009). Quiet your mind and get to sleep: Solutions to insomnia for those with depression, anxiety, or chronic pain. Oakland, US.: New Harbinger Publications.