teens’ biggest complaint right now: exhaustion
If you ask most teens what they’re struggling with these days, you’ll hear it over and over: “I’m tired.”
And they’re not exaggerating. Our kids are over-scheduled, stretched thin, and trying to keep up with a pace that would exhaust even the most organized adult. Between high school sports, club sports, SAT prep, piles of homework, endless presentations, community service hours, and the pressure to still have a social life… It's no wonder exhaustion is their biggest complaint.
The truth is, sleep is not a luxury. Experts recommend teens get 8–10 hours of sleep a night—yet more than 70% of high schoolers don’t even come close. And it shows. Lack of sleep impacts mood, focus, learning, physical health, and emotional well-being. In fact, it’s strongly tied to higher levels of anxiety and depression in teens. When they’re running on too little sleep, their ability to manage emotions and stress plummets. No wonder they’re feeling so overwhelmed.
Somewhere along the way, sleep stopped being a priority in parenting. We shuffle them out the door at 5 a.m. for a game two hours away. We plan tournament weekends with five games crammed in. We sign them up for “just one more activity” because it feels like the right thing for their future. And even when they finally have a chance to sleep in, we poke our heads into their rooms with, “It’s 10 a.m., shouldn’t you be up and doing something?”
But what are we doing here?
This type of parenting—though it comes from love and good intentions—is backfiring. We’re raising teens who are running on fumes. And it’s not just about being tired. Sleep is how our kids recalibrate. It’s the reset button we can’t afford to ignore.
A Small Challenge for Parents
This week, let your teen have a true sleep-in morning without guilt attached. See how their mood shifts. Notice the difference.
And if you’re finding it hard to prioritize rest in your teen’s schedule—because the demands feel endless—you’re not alone. This is exactly the kind of work I do with parents: helping sort through what really matters, creating space for connection, and giving our kids what they truly need.
If this hits home for you, I’d love to connect. Together, we can rethink what’s driving your teen’s schedule and reclaim the gift of rest.
