When Your Teen’s January Exhaustion Isn’t Normal

January hits different when you’re a teenager.

Two weeks of sleeping in, staying up late, zero responsibilities. Then suddenly: 6:30 AM alarms, seven-hour school days, homework, activities, repeat.

Of course they’re exhausted. Right?

But you’re starting to wonder. Because it’s been three weeks, and they’re not adjusting. If anything, they’re getting worse.

🎒 The January Slump vs. Something More

Yes, getting back into the school routine is rough. And yes, teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep (which most don’t get).

But here’s what’s NOT normal:

• Sleeping 12+ hours and still exhausted
• Falling asleep in class regularly
• Can’t stay awake even when they try
• Zero energy for things they used to love
• Getting worse as January goes on
• Other symptoms (sore throat, pale skin, weight changes)

If this sounds like your teen, it’s time to get them checked.

🩺 What Could Be Going On?

When exhaustion is this severe, there’s often a medical explanation:

😷 Mononucleosis (“Mono”)

The most common cause of extreme teen fatigue. Spread through saliva (shared drinks, kissing), mono causes weeks of crushing exhaustion, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. No amount of sleep helps until it runs its course.

🩸 Anemia

Low iron = not enough oxygen getting to tissues. Especially common in teenage girls due to menstruation. Symptoms include constant tiredness, pale skin, dizziness, and shortness of breath during normal activities.

Thyroid Problems

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows your entire metabolism. Everything feels harder – waking up, concentrating, staying warm. Weight gain, dry skin, and “brain fog” are also common.

💤 Sleep Disorders

Sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome – yes, teens get these too. They might be in bed for 10 hours, but not actually getting restorative sleep.

😔 Depression or Anxiety

Mental health struggles manifest physically. Depression especially causes overwhelming fatigue, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty getting out of bed – even after a full night’s sleep.

🍔 Nutritional Deficiencies

Vitamin D, B12, and other deficiencies cause serious fatigue. Common in teens who skip meals, eat mostly processed foods, or follow restrictive diets without proper supplementation.

🏥 How We Can Help

At Night Watch, we take teen exhaustion seriously. Here’s what we can do:

• Comprehensive blood work: Test for mono, anemia, thyroid function, vitamin levels
• Physical examination: Check for swollen lymph nodes, pale skin, other physical signs
• Rapid testing: Strep, flu, COVID if illness suspected
• Mental health screening: And referrals to appropriate providers
• Treatment or referral: Based on what we find

Most causes of extreme exhaustion are treatable – once you know what you’re dealing with.

📚 When School Performance Tanks

Here’s a major red flag: your formerly good student is suddenly struggling.

• Can’t concentrate in class
• Falling asleep during lectures
• Can’t complete homework
• Memory problems
• Grades dropping

This isn’t laziness or “senioritis.” Something is physically or mentally preventing them from functioning normally.

⏰ Don’t Wait

Bring them to Night Watch if:

• Exhaustion has lasted more than 2 weeks
• It’s affecting school or activities
• They’re sleeping 10+ hours and still tired
• Other symptoms are present
• Your parental instinct says something’s wrong

Sometimes “I’m just tired” means something’s really wrong. Let’s figure out what it is.