Woman hitting snooze on her alarm to sleep more

Why You Wake Up Tired (Even After 8 Hours)

By: Marge Hynes

You tucked in early. You avoided caffeine. You clocked a full eight hours.
So, why are you still waking up feeling foggy, heavy, or like you could sleep another three?

The truth is, quantity of sleep doesn’t always equal quality of rest. There are a few sneaky factors that can leave you drained—even when you think you’ve done everything right.

Let’s unpack why that happens (and what small changes can make all the difference).

1. You’re Getting Sleep, But Not Deep Sleep

It’s possible to spend eight hours in bed without ever reaching the deep, restorative sleep your body truly needs. Stress, blue light, inconsistent schedules, or even room temperature can all keep your brain in lighter sleep stages. [1,2,3]

If you wake up often during the night or feel groggy in the morning, your body may not be cycling through enough slow-wave or REM sleep.

Try this tonight:

  • Dim the lights an hour before bed

  • Avoid screens after 9 p.m.

  • Keep your bedroom cool—between 16–18°C is ideal for most adults

A cooler, calmer sleep space helps signal to your body that it’s time to rest—not just lie down.

Woman in bedroom cooling off with a portable fan

2. Your Bedding Could Be Making You Overheat

If you often wake up tossing, turning, or kicking off the covers, you might be sleeping too warm. Heat-trapping fabrics like polyester or overly dense cotton can make your body work overtime to regulate temperature—disrupting your rest without you realising it.

The fix: Switch to 100% Bamboo Bedding, which naturally wicks away moisture and helps regulate body temperature. Bamboo viscose fibres are breathable, silky-soft, and designed to keep you cool in summer and cosy in winter—so your sleep stays uninterrupted.

You’ll feel the difference in just a few nights.

3. You’re Going to Bed Tense (And Waking Up That Way)

If you lie in bed running through tomorrow’s to-do list, your body may be resting, but your mind isn’t. That low-level tension can stop you from ever reaching true relaxation—even while asleep.

Try this before bed:

  • Write down anything on your mind (it helps your brain “let go”)

  • Take five slow, deep breaths

  • Stretch gently or listen to calming sounds

Relaxation doesn’t just help you fall asleep faster—it helps you wake up better.

Older man waking up sore and tired from a night of poor sleep

4. Your Sleep Routine Keeps Changing

Your body thrives on rhythm. When bedtime and wake-up times shift every few days, your internal clock struggles to keep up—leading to that “permanent jet lag” feeling, even if you’ve technically slept enough.

The fix: Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day (yes, even weekends). Over time, your body will start releasing melatonin naturally when it’s time to wind down—helping you fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.

5. Your Environment Isn’t Rest-Friendly

Light seeping in through thin curtains, noisy neighbours, or a stuffy room can all chip away at your rest. A few small tweaks can make your bedroom more sleep-friendly:

  • Block out light with heavier curtains or an eye mask

  • Reduce clutter—a calm space encourages a calm mind

  • Upgrade your bedding—breathable, soft fabrics make all the difference for comfort and calm

Woman hugging her Cosy House Luxury Pillow + Cosy House Bamboo Bedding

The Bottom Line:

Waking up tired doesn’t always mean you didn’t sleep enough—it often means your body didn’t get the right kind of sleep.

Start by creating a cooler, calmer environment with breathable bamboo bedding. Combine that with a steady routine, a mindful wind-down, and a balanced room temperature, and you’ll be surprised at how much fresher you feel in the mornings.

Sleep Better, Feel Better

Discover the difference 100% Bamboo Bedding can make—soft, breathable, and naturally temperature-regulating for your best night’s sleep yet.

👉 Shop now and save 10% with code: BLOG10

Cosy House bedding discount – woman asleep in cozy sheets. 10% off with code BLOG10 on the CosyLiving special.

Because you deserve to wake up rested, not just done sleeping.

Resources: 

  1. Koffel, Erin et al. Sleep health and aging: Recommendations for promoting healthy sleep among older adults: A National Sleep Foundation report, Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, Volume 9, Issue 6, 821 - 824, https://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S2352-7218(23)00196-1/fulltext 

  2. Gooley JJ, Chamberlain K, Smith KA, Khalsa SB, Rajaratnam SM, Van Reen E, Zeitzer JM, Czeisler CA, Lockley SW. Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Mar;96(3):E463-72. doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-2098. Epub 2010 Dec 30. PMID: 21193540; PMCID: PMC3047226. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3047226/ 

  3. Harvard Health Publishing, Blogs. July, 2024. Harvard Health. "Blue Light Has a Dark Side.” https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side 


Marge Hynes

Written by Marge Hynes

Marge is a seasoned content writer with a passion for storytelling and creating engaging articles. She enjoys crafting content that connects with readers and keeps them informed.