It’s isn’t just a lame excuse to avoid sex! 1 in 4 Americans say they are too sleep deprived for sex. 

Think about it… Do you want to go to that restaurant you’ve been trying to get a reservation at forever when you’ve just had the longest day of your life? No, of course not. You’d be too tired to enjoy it properly. The food just won’t taste as good when you can hardly keep your eyes open! The same principle applies to sex. Being tired is a distraction.

There are many Reasons someone might be too tired for sex.

Some of the obvious reasons:

• Sleep deprivation: Getting under 8 hours of sleep means your body is fighting against its homeostatic drive for sleep. The more consecutive hours your body stays awake, the stronger this drive becomes. In fact, that drive can flip a neuronal “switch” in the brain and send you to sleep whether you want it or not. And let’s just say, sleep drive > sex drive.

• Mental exhaustion: prolonged stress can zap your physical energy like a leech. Dealing with anxiety at work, for example. This means that by the time you get home, you may find you hardly have enough energy to put your pajamas on. It also means your mental capacity for sex is diminished –  sex is mental, too.

• Too much exercise: If you outdid yourself at the gym the other day, you may literally just not have the strength for sex! That applies to highly physical jobs like construction too. Aching muscles and burning limbs are not conducive to sex.

Some of the not so obvious reasons:

• Thyroid problems: One of the symptoms of an under-active thyroid is tiredness. So, it’s easy to confuse hypothyroidism with other things. But the thyroid is one of the most important glands in our bodies. It regulates things like metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and a slew of other bodily functions. The thyroid is a hormonal powerhouse. Without the correct cocktail of hormones, your desire for sex can be non-existent.
• Iron deficiency: Things like fatigue and weakness are classic signs of iron deficiency. When your body isn’t getting enough iron, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Don’t self-diagnose low iron and start taking iron pills – overloading your body with iron can have seriously damaging effects.

So give yourself or your partner a break if one of you is “too tired”. There are legitimate and understandable reasons for being too tired for sex!

What to do instead:

Spend the time enjoying gentle touching, kissing, and cuddling. This can give you a sense of intimacy without exerting yourself too much. The simple act of being close to one another… Naked or not – can help boost your bond.