September has a way of making everything feel like it’s starting again. School is back, calendars fill up, mornings get busier and somehow, you’re still exhausted.
If you’ve been feeling more tired than usual lately, you’re not necessarily imagining it. There are a few things that could be behind that fall slump, from your sleep schedule to the changing daylight.
Start with sleep
The back to school season can make sleep one of the first things to get pushed aside. And if you’re already running on empty, another coffee isn’t necessarily going to fix it.
The CDC recommends that adults get at least seven hours of sleep a night. Still, 30.5% of U.S. adults reported getting less than seven hours on average in 2024.
Getting outside earlier in the day and keeping a fairly consistent sleep schedule can help, too. The CDC recommends getting natural light, particularly earlier in the day, as part of healthy sleep habits.
Shorter days can affect you
There’s also the fact that there is simply less daylight as fall turns into winter. For some people, that can affect mood, sleep and energy.
That doesn’t automatically mean you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Plenty of people experience a mild seasonal dip without having SAD. But if you’re experiencing persistent low mood, loss of interest in things you normally enjoy, significant changes in sleep or appetite, or ongoing fatigue, it may be worth talking to a healthcare professional. Those can be symptoms of SAD.
And sometimes, it’s not the season
If you’re tired all the time, don’t automatically blame September.
Iron deficiency anemia, for example, can cause tiredness, weakness, low energy and difficulty concentrating. Women with heavy periods are among the groups at greater risk of iron deficiency. If your fatigue feels unusual or isn’t going away, that’s a good reason to check in with your doctor.
You don’t need a “fall reset”
Fall doesn’t have to be another season where you try to become a completely new person. Sometimes, paying attention to why you’re tired is enough.
Related reading
- The Health Appointments Mothers Stop Booking (And Why It’s Catching Up With Us)
- Nervous System Regulation for Moms Who Cannot Meditate
- 5-Minute Meditations for Moms — 6 Resets That Actually Work
- School Is Back, and So Is Mom’s Invisible Workload
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Persistent fatigue, low mood, or changes in sleep and appetite are worth raising with your own physician.
