If you live with daytime sleepiness, it probably makes your daily life a bit more challenging. Being tired can make you lethargic and unmotivated. It may feel like you’re in a perpetual state of brain fog.

The cause of daytime sleepiness varies. You may have to work with your doctor to pinpoint what is making you fatigued.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The following eight memes perfectly sum up the challenges of living with daytime sleepiness.

Lack of quality sleep can make it difficult to focus on work. You may find yourself nodding off at your desk. Or, it may be a challenge to concentrate in meetings and make decisions. All of this can affect your productivity on the job.

Although you might not be able to shake daytime sleepiness completely, a 15-minute power nap during your lunch break can energize you.

Many people drink coffee as part of their morning routine, but if you’re living with daytime sleepiness, coffee might be your lifeline.

It can be hard to explain to friends and family why you’re always tired. They may not understand why you nod off at work or social events. You may have had to explain many times that you’re not just “being dramatic” about your tiredness.

When sleepiness hits, you can’t will yourself to “wake up.” Sometimes, the only solution is being able to close your eyes and get some rest.

Insomnia is a common culprit of daytime sleepiness. People with insomnia can’t fall asleep or stay asleep at night. You may lie in bed for hours before actually going to sleep. Or, if you’re able to fall asleep quickly, you may wake up after one or two hours and stay awake until morning.

One isolated night of insomnia isn’t a big deal. But if you stay awake night after night for an extended time, you’ll have ongoing daytime sleepiness.

It may get to a point when you give up on ever getting some rest. But that’s not a good idea for your health.

Being tired all the time can also make you feel irritable. It can affect your happiness and even cause mood disorders. Also, untreated sleep problems may cause high blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Talk to your doctor if your sleepiness won’t go away after self-treating it.

Sleeping and resting aren’t the same. But sometimes, closing your eyes for a few minutes can make a world of difference.

If you can’t keep your eyes open (and you’re not in a position to nap), closing your eyes and enjoying a moment of quiet wakefulness can increase alertness, reduce stress, and boost your mental clarity.

Even when you have every intention of staying awake, you might drift into a serene, but short, slumber even in the middle of a conversation.

This sums up how you feel every day of your life. It’s how you respond when someone asks about your day. It may even be your word of choice when asked to describe yourself.

Daytime sleepiness can affect your emotional and psychological well-being. It can have a major impact on your quality of life.

Takeaway

If you’re experiencing daytime sleepiness, take steps to manage it through healthy lifestyle changes, like exercise, eating well, and getting at least eight hours of sleep each night.

If you don’t see any changes in your sleep after making these changes, talk to your doctor. Many different things can be contributing to your daytime sleepiness. Working with your doctor is the only way to find the real cause.

Your doctor can also talk to you about treatment for daytime sleepiness and how to manage your symptoms.