Tired but Wired: Why Overtraining Can Feel Like Insomnia
Have you ever exercised so much that you had trouble sleeping during the night?
At the National Wellness and Fitness Association (NWFA), we have explored fitness and wellness for over 25 years, but we also believe that rest and relaxation are just as important.
If you're an athlete or fitness enthusiast who doesn't know how to stop during a workout, know that a sleepless night is waiting for you. If you overwork your body, you will lay awake at night, feeling completely exhausted but also alert.
It's like your body wants to rest, but your mind is still focused.
This contradiction of feeling "tired but wired" could be a red flag. It means that your body might be entering an uncomfortable state of Overtraining Syndrome (OTS).
Overtraining vs. Overreaching: Where It All Starts
Intense training is not a bad thing.
In fact, elite athletes use Functional Overreaching (FOR) intentionally. In such a workout, they carry out short bursts of intense exercise and then follow it up with recovery. In this way, they can benefit from "super-compensation," which means that their performance exceeds previous levels.
But when you stretch out your workouts for too long, with insufficient recovery, FOR turns into Non-Functional Overreaching (NFOR), and the last stage of this burnout is Overtraining Syndrome.
This condition is the reason behind physical, hormonal, and psychological disruptions, and the most frustrating symptom is sleeplessness.
When Over-Performance Backfires
Overtraining Syndrome isn't just physical fatigue. It is a systemic burnout.
It happens when you fail to balance training load, life stress, and proper rest.
And if poor nutrition or illness is also a part of it, you can actually harm your body.
The sympathetic nervous system, the "fight or flight" mode of the body, can go into a state called hyperarousal. In this state, your heart rate stays high, your cortisol levels increase, and instead of relaxing at night, your body is stuck in overdrive.
That's where the "wired" part comes in.
Your mind races, your muscles twitch, and you feel like you can still run and work despite being too tired to even sit up.
Tired But Wired: Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore
If you are experiencing the earliest signs of OTS, do not ignore them. They can be due to stress, fatigue, or life changes. However, the following subtle symptoms can increase to the point that they damage the muscles or strength of your body;
- You are tired but can't sleep
- Elevated resting heart rate
- Irritation and mood swings
- Loss of performance "kick"
- Persistent thirst
- Frequent infections.
Conclusion
If you ignore the signs of overtraining syndrome, they can grow into months of poor performance, illness, and psychological burnout.
Recovery is essential during your fitness journey. Even professional athletes use periodized training programs to balance their efforts with recovery windows.
For anyone who wants to strive to be the best, NWFA encourages a smarter approach to fitness. Listen to your body. Sleep well after workouts.
And most importantly, recover.