Excessive Yawning: What It Really Means and How to Stop It

You’re yawning again…and not because this article is boring. Yawning occurs in response to tiredness, boredom, or even seeing someone else yawn.

However, when yawning becomes excessive, it might signal something more significant.

This article will cover the possible causes of excessive yawning, when it’s time to worry, and how to address it effectively.

Why You Might Be Yawning A Lot

Yawning more than usual? Here are some reasons why yawning occurs, and common reasons your body might be hitting the repeat button.

Sleep Deprivation or Poor Sleep Quality

The most common reason for excessive yawning is simple—your body’s running low on sleep. When you’re sleep-deprived, it’s your brain’s way of begging you for downtime.

Disrupted sleep cycles don’t help either.

If you have a tendency to wake up during deep or light sleep, or REM stages, it can prevent you from getting the quality rest you need, leaving you tired and yawning through the day.

Add in late-night screen time, which messes with melatonin, or overheating at night, a stressful bedroom environment, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for poor sleep and nonstop yawns.

Fatigue and Drowsiness

Feeling tired, even just a little, can make yawning practically nonstop. When your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock, is off balance from late nights, shift work, or inconsistent nights, it throws your energy levels out of sync.

Your body starts to feel sluggish and uses yawning as a way to stay alert. Add in physical exhaustion from a tough workout or mental fatigue from long hours of focus at work or school, and people are doing it more often.

This is your body’s built-in signal that it’s time to slow down and recharge.

Yawning Caused by Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy can all make you yawn more than usual.

When these conditions go untreated, they cause poor sleep quality and constant feeling tired.

If you’re not familiar, sleep apnea interrupts your breathing overnight, leaving you tired no matter how long you’ve slept. Insomnia makes it hard to fall or stay asleep, which leads to that sluggish, all-day fatigue.

Narcolepsy takes things further—it disrupts your brain’s sleep-wake cycle, causing excessive daytime sleepiness and frequent yawns throughout the day.

Did You Know: About 30 million adults in the U.S. are estimated to have sleep apnea, but nearly 80% of moderate to severe cases go undiagnosed, meaning millions wake up tired and don’t even realize why. [1]

Excessive Stress and Anxiety

With the rise of stress and anxiety disorders, it’s no surprise that constant yawning can show up as more than just a sign of tiredness; it’s your body’s built-in stress relief.

When you’re anxious, your nervous system kicks into high gear, raising cortisol levels and throwing off your sleep patterns.

Studies show that about 77% of people experience physical symptoms of stress, like fatigue and restlessness, which can make yawning more frequent. [2] Our bodies are pretty amazing.

Yawning is their gentle way of calming down, taking deeper breaths, boosting oxygen flow, and even cooling the brain to help you refocus.

Certain Medications and Health Conditions

Certain medications and underlying health conditions can influence its frequency, making you yawn more than usual—and it’s not always about being tired.

Some antidepressants, antihistamines, and even pain medications can interfere with the brain chemicals that control alertness and sleep, leading to frequent yawning.

For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat anxiety or depression are known to increase yawning frequency as a side effect. [3]

Beyond medication, certain neurological conditions like migraines, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy can also trigger you to yawn frequently. In these cases, it may help the body regulate brain temperature or relieve tension during flare-ups.

If you notice you’re yawning excessively, meaning more often after starting a new medication, it could be a side effect—or a sign of something else going on. It’s best to talk with your doctor before making any changes.

If the medication is to blame, they may adjust your dosage or suggest an alternative that works better for you.

Vitamin Deficiencies and Fatigue

Sometimes, frequent yawning isn’t about poor sleep or stress—it’s your body signaling it’s low on key nutrients.

A lack of vitamins like B12 or iron can cause fatigue, leaving you dragging through the day and yawning more than usual. These nutrients play a big role in keeping your energy levels steady and your brain sharp.

If you suspect you’re running low, a simple blood test can confirm it. Adding more iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, or red meat—or taking a B12 supplement—can help restore balance and reduce that constant tired feeling.

Temperature and Oxygen Levels

Have you ever noticed you yawn more when you’re hot or stuffy? That’s your body trying to cool things down.

It helps regulate brain temperature and boost oxygen levels by increasing airflow and deeper breathing. When you’re hot, whether due to a warm bedroom or too many blankets, your body may use yawning to keep your brain alert.

Keeping your bedroom cool can make a big difference.

The Chilipad Dock Pro, a top-rated cooling mattress topper, helps keep your body temperature steady all night long, so you can relax and your brain can chill—literally.

Note: Yawning without an apparent underlying cause, such as tiredness or boredom, is a typical threshold for concern if it exceeds three yawns per 15 minutes, several times a day. [4]

When Should You Be Concerned?

Yawning here and there is totally normal, but if it’s happening nonstop or feels out of control, it might be a sign something deeper is going on.

Pay attention to what your body’s telling you. If you’re constantly tired even after a full night’s rest, struggling to focus, or forgetting things easily, it could point to an underlying sleep issue.

If this keeps happening, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor—just to be safe.

Getting it looked at not only gives you peace of mind but can also help catch potential issues early. In some cases, tests like an EEG or MRI may be used to identify what’s causing the excessive yawning.

Simple Ways to Stop Yawning So Much

If you’re tired of constant yawns stealing your focus, there are a few ways to get things back on track. Here’s how to reduce excessive yawning and help your body feel more alert.

Improve Your Sleep Hygiene

A few small adjustments can make all the difference, especially when it comes to improving your sleep hygiene.

First, try to keep a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This helps your body get into a rhythm and know exactly when it’s time to rest.

A good rule of thumb? Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night and turn your bedroom into a true dream sanctuary—think dark, quiet, and comfortably cool.

Blackout curtains, a fan, or a little white noise can help set the mood. If you tend to sleep hot at night, cooling your bed with the Chilipad Dock Pro can help you stay at your ideal temperature for deeper, uninterrupted rest.

This can be especially beneficial for athletes who experience increased body heat due to intense training, as well as for women going through menopause who often face night sweats and hot flashes disrupting their sleep.

Take Control and Manage Stress

Stress and anxiety can make you yawn more than usual, but getting them under control can make a big difference.

Try simple practices like mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing to calm your nervous system and reset your focus.

Even something as easy as journaling before bed or setting a short wind-down routine can help your body relax.

The more you manage stress, the less your body feels the need to “cool off” through those annoying, excessive yawning.

Try to Move More During the Day

It’s not always easy to stay active, between work, school, and a packed schedule, finding time to move can feel impossible.

But even small bursts of activity can make a difference. Gentle movement boosts circulation and helps you stay alert, cutting down on those fatigue-driven yawns.

If you're interested in reducing those frequent yawns, start out by taking short stretch breaks, going for quick walks between tasks, or standing while taking calls.

A little movement goes a long way in keeping your energy up and your yawns in check.

Ease Up on Caffeine and Alcohol

We get it—a morning coffee or a nightcap can feel like daily essentials. But too much caffeine or alcohol can throw off your sleep and leave you yawning all day.

Caffeine hangs around in your system for hours, so that late-afternoon latte might still be keeping you up at night.

Alcohol can make you feel relaxed at first, but it disrupts deep sleep later on, leaving you tired and unfocused.

Try easing off both, swap your second coffee for herbal tea, or keep that glass of wine to earlier in the evening.

A few small changes can help improve your deep sleep, wake up feeling more energized, and potentially reduce the number of yawns throughout your day.

Talk to a Specialist

If you’ve tried improving your routine and you’re still yawning nonstop, it might be time to call in some backup—and that’s totally okay.

A sleep specialist can help you figure out what’s really going on, whether it’s stress, poor sleep quality, or an underlying sleep disorder.

Tracking your sleep or creating a sleep journal can also give you useful data to share with your doctor.

Sometimes, a quick check or a study is all it takes to pinpoint the problem and get you back to feeling rested instead of running on empty.

Understanding Your Yawns and Taking Back Control

Yawning too much doesn’t always mean something’s wrong, but it can be your body’s way of asking for a reset.

Whether it’s lack of sleep, high stress, or too many late-night coffees, excessive yawning often ties back to how well you’re resting and recovering.

The good news? Most of the fixes are simple. A consistent bedtime, a cooler sleep setup, a little more movement during the day, and some mindfulness before bed can all go a long way.

If the yawns keep coming, there’s no harm in checking in with a sleep specialist to rule out anything bigger—it’s always better to know than wonder.

Your body has a smart way of signaling when it needs attention; you just have to listen. Figuring it out can help you get restful sleep.

So start small, stay consistent, and give your body what it’s asking for—more quality sleep, less stress, and maybe a cooler night’s rest.

You’ll wake up more alert, feel sharper during the day, and finally stop fighting off those mid-meeting yawns.