WHY ARE TEENS ALWAYS SO TIRED? And why is someone else doing it all?

 I bet you’ve been told you were “just too lazy” at least once this week, but is laziness

really the reason behind teens’ constant exhaustion?

From Monday to Friday we wake up too early, which is far from ideal for

adolescents. Studies show that our brains stay more active at night due to a delayed

release of melatonin and a shift in our circadian rhythm, resulting in our bodies keeping

us awake until late. So when we get to school in the morning, both our minds and

bodies struggle to concentrate and keep up with classes. The moment we realize we

need a break, the guilt kicks in and leads to performing below our actual abilities and, in

worse cases, even more mental fatigue from overthinking.

This overthinking often feeds into the now very common “fear of missing out” (FOMO).

Mixed with our natural sleep cycle and daily responsibilities, it steals the last hours we

have left to rest, or at least makes that rest way less restorative, keeping our brains alert

“just in case” something happens without us being there.

“But why can my classmate do it all while I can’t even figure out my sleep schedule?

Comparison culture plays a huge role in how we see ourselves; we look at people who

seem to function flawlessly and assume they’re doing better than us, but what if instead

of (understandably) envying someone who probably has their own issues but hides

them well we used that energy to listen to ourselves and make our life about our peace

again?  Then we’d finally have a working world, based on every single person’s rhythms.

Chasing an unrealistic standard does nothing but worsen our constantly developing

minds, and makes us blame ourselves for things that aren’t our fault.

You’ll eventually realize that you’re not lazy; you’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, and

under-rested. You just need to find your rhythm, not someone else’s. Above all, if you

feel the need to share what’s going on in your mind: do not hesitate.

Seek a loved one willing to listen, either a friend, a family member or a professional, and

find some comfort in knowing that everything can always be fixed somehow.

                                                                                                                            G. B. 5 D ling