Drowsiness is that heavy, sleepy feeling when your body wants to rest but you're still awake. Your eyelids feel weighted down, your thoughts get fuzzy, and staying alert takes real effort. If you've ever struggled to keep your eyes open during a long car ride or found yourself nodding off while reading in bed, you've experienced drowsiness.

Drowsiness happens for different reasons. Sometimes it's simply because you didn't get enough sleep the night before. Other times it strikes after a big meal, when your body redirects energy to digestion. Warm, quiet environments can trigger drowsiness too: a dim classroom on a rainy afternoon might make even well-rested students feel drowsy.

When drowsiness hits while you're trying to concentrate on homework or stay awake during a movie, fighting it can feel like swimming against a strong current. Getting enough sleep each night can help prevent unwanted drowsiness.