Why you feel worse after a nap and more tired on holiday

Okay so sleep inertia is a thing (you feel groggy for a bit after waking up) and sometimes you walk for hours and hours when you visit a new city.

But there’s another reason:

When you’re overworked and overstressed, you’re full of adrenaline and cortisol, and that’s masking your fatigue like a bunch of black coffee would.

When you get some rest, your body calms down a bit, and so you feel how tired you actually have been the whole time. You feel worse because you really needed the rest.

Argh.

Unsolicited Advice: Have a nap. I know I know it’s not that simple.

This piece was originally published in The Whippet #132 – subscribe to get the next issue in your inbox!