700. Why You Feel Tired When You Wake Up (Let’s Fix It!)

Raise your hand if you hit snooze three times this morning. 

Yep, I see you. If rolling out of bed feels like dragging a boulder uphill and you don’t feel human until that first sip of coffee, you’re not alone. Trust me, I hear this all the time from women just like you—smart, driven, and doing all the right things, yet still waking up exhausted. So what gives?

Let’s get one thing straight: it’s not just about getting more sleep. If it were that easy, you wouldn’t be reading this. The reality? There’s a whole cocktail of reasons why you might be waking up feeling like you got run over by a truck, and we’re about to dig into them.

The biggest culprit? Low cortisol. Think of cortisol as your body’s natural morning alarm clock—it’s supposed to rise and give you that let’s-go-conquer-the-day energy. But if your levels are in the basement, you’re starting the day on an empty tank, and no amount of caffeine can fully fix that.

I worked with a woman recently who had been battling morning fatigue for years. She swore she was doing everything right—going to bed early, eating well, exercising—but when we ran a DUTCH test, her pre-cortisol levels were basically nonexistent. No wonder she felt like a zombie!

But low cortisol is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are a few other sneaky culprits:

• Crummy sleep quality – Are you actually getting deep, restorative sleep or just logging hours in bed?

• Melatonin misfires – If your melatonin is off, your body’s sleep-wake cycle might be too.

• Nutrient gaps – Your body does a ton of repair work overnight, and it needs the right fuel to do it.

• Circadian rhythm chaos – Stress, travel, late-night scrolling (we’ve all been there)—all of this messes with your body’s natural rhythms.

How to Wake Up Feeling Better Than a Walking Zombie)

First things first: You’re not lazy. You don’t need more willpower. You need to give your body what it actually needs to function. Here’s how to start:

1. Test, don’t guess – A DUTCH test will give you real insight into what’s happening with your hormones.

2. Prioritize deep sleep – Set up a bedtime routine, cut back on blue light at night, and consider magnesium or melatonin support.

3. Fuel your body right – Protein, healthy fats, and key nutrients are essential for overnight recovery.

4. Stay the course – If your system is running on empty, fixing it isn’t an overnight job. Give it time, and don’t quit too soon.

I know how frustrating it is to feel like your body isn’t cooperating. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to live like this. If you’re ready to stop waking up exhausted and actually feel energized, let’s get to the root cause. 

Click the link to learn more about the Female Hormone Solution Program—I’m here to help you take back your mornings and feel like you again: https://drbethwestie.com/waitlist/