By Ruth Jones

Copyright tomsguide

Skip to main content

Tom’s Guide

Newsletters

View Profile

Search Tom’s Guide

Phone Insights

Phone Best Picks

Phone Deals

Phone Face-Offs

Phone How-Tos

Phone Reviews

Network Carriers

Android Phones

Google Phones

Motorola Phones

OnePlus Phones

Samsung Phones

Nothing Phone

TV Best Picks

TV Face-Offs

Audio Insights

Audio Best Picks

Audio Deals

Audio Face-Offs

Audio How-Tos

Audio Reviews

Over-Ear Headphones

Bluetooth Speakers

Entertainment

Streaming Devices

Prime Video

Paramount Plus

Playstation

Gaming Peripherals

Connections

Computing Insights

Computing Best Picks

Computing Deals

Computing Face-Offs

Computing How-Tos

Computing News

Computing Reviews

VPN Best Picks

VPN Face-Offs

VPN How-Tos

VPN Reviews

Operating Systems

Malware & Adware

Smart Glasses

Chromebooks

Gaming Laptops

Apple Desktops

Gaming Desktops

Android Tablets

Computing Brands

AI Insights

AI Best Picks

AI Face-Offs

Google Gemini

Apple Intelligence

Mattress Best Picks

Mattress Deals

Mattress Face-Offs

Mattress How-Tos

Mattress News

Mattress Reviews

Mattress Care

Mattress Toppers

Pillows & Bedding

Smartwatches

Fitness Trackers

Smart Rings

Apple Watch

Home Insights

Home Best Picks

Home Face-Offs

Home How-Tos

Home Reviews

Home Topics

Home Appliances

Home Office

Home Security

Home Brands

Popular Brands

View Phones

Phone Insights

Phone Best Picks

Phone Deals

Phone Face-Offs

Phone How-Tos

Phone Reviews

Network Carriers

View Network Carriers

Android Phones

View Android Phones

Google Phones

Motorola Phones

OnePlus Phones

Samsung Phones

Nothing Phone

TV Best Picks

TV Face-Offs

Audio Insights

View Audio Insights

Audio Best Picks

Audio Deals

Audio Face-Offs

Audio How-Tos

Audio Reviews

Headphones

View Headphones

Over-Ear Headphones

View Speakers

Bluetooth Speakers

Entertainment

View Entertainment

View Streaming

Streaming Devices

Prime Video

Paramount Plus

View Gaming

Playstation

Gaming Peripherals

Word Games

Connections

View Computing

Computing Insights

Computing Best Picks

Computing Deals

Computing Face-Offs

Computing How-Tos

Computing News

Computing Reviews

VPN Best Picks

VPN Face-Offs

VPN How-Tos

VPN Reviews

View Hardware

View Software

Operating Systems

View Security

Malware & Adware

View VR & AR

Smart Glasses

View Laptops

Chromebooks

Gaming Laptops

View Desktops

Apple Desktops

Gaming Desktops

View Tablets

Android Tablets

Computing Brands

AI Insights

AI Best Picks

AI Face-Offs

AI Engines

Google Gemini

Apple Intelligence

View Wellness

Mattresses

View Mattresses

Mattress Best Picks

Mattress Deals

Mattress Face-Offs

Mattress How-Tos

Mattress News

Mattress Reviews

Mattress Care

Mattress Toppers

Pillows & Bedding

View Fitness

Smartwatches

Fitness Trackers

Smart Rings

Apple Watch

Home Insights

Home Best Picks

Home Face-Offs

Home How-Tos

Home Reviews

Home Topics

Home Appliances

Home Office

Home Security

View Outdoors

Home Brands

Popular Brands

Meta Connect LIVE
iPhone 17 Pro Max Review
iPhone Air Review
iPhone 17 Review
Best laptops

Best Mattress

Don’t miss these

Tired of being tired? Scientists say this unexpected supplement could help undo sleep deprivation

Ruth Jones

18 September 2025

It’s been shown to boost memory and response times

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can’t sleep? Your mattress might be the problem

(Image credit: Future)
A bed that doesn’t meet your comfort and support needs might be the reason for your sleepless nights. Our guide to the best mattresses for every sleep style can help you find a better bed for you.
Missed out on your precious eight hours of sleep? Put down the coffee and pick up your workout bag — creatine supplements might be the best way to beat fatigue, research suggests.

Creatine is a compound that occurs naturally in the body and assists the muscles with the production of energy.
It can also be found in certain protein-rich food, while creatine supplements are popular with athletes.

But recent online chatter has praised creatine for its supposed ability to undo 21 hours of sleep deprivation. And scientists suggest it’s not as far-fetched a claim as it might first appear.

What is the impact of creatine on fatigue?
Creatine studies often focus on the long-term influence of the supplement but recent research has shone a light on the immediate impact of taking a high dose of creatine.
In a 2024 study, sleep deprived participants were offered a single high dose (35g) of creatine or a placebo. During the course of the following night, they engaged in cognitive tests to measure performance, alongside MRI scans to understand chemical response.

(Image credit: Getty Images)
Those who had taken creatine showed improved cognitive performance and processing speed, with scans suggesting creatine could help maintain chemical levels in the brain. These benefits were observed for nine hours, peaking at four hours after creatine consumption.

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Doctors suggest that taking a single high dose of creatine can potentially reverse the influence of fatigue, allowing you to maintain cognitive performance even after a bad night’s sleep.
And there’s growing interest in the short-term benefits of creatine.
A 2018 review found that creatine could improve short-term memory and reasoning, with a benefit for stressed individuals. A further 2024 review concluded that creatine can benefit cognitive function, particularly memory, attention time and the ability to process information.
A 2023 study similarly suggested that creatine can help boost memory and lessen fatigue, while results indicate creatine could potentially ease anxiety and depression (both common symptoms of sleep deprivation.)
How to use creatine to fight fatigue
While creatine for muscle energy is typically taken in small doses, research suggests that when using the supplement to fight fatigue, you need to up the dosage.

When to speak to a healthcare professional about fatigue?

If you regularly find yourself feeling fatigued, you might be experiencing long-term sleep deprivation. A healthcare professional can help you beat daytime fatigue and find the cause of your disrupted nights.
Those looking to feel more alert after a bad night’s sleep should take between 25g and 35g of creatine a day, based on the 2024 study.
And drawing from the same research, the impact of creatine is best felt four hours after ingestion — so we recommend incorporating creatine into your morning routine.
But that doesn’t mean creatine is an easy way to supercharge your brain. Scientists best observed the benefits of creatine among those experiencing sleep deprivation. A double dose of creatine on a regular day is unlikely to have any impact on your memory or reaction times.
So save your creatine for after a sleepless night or, for example, when you know an upcoming deadline will leave you running on fumes.
And the best method to fight fatigue is still to get a good night’s sleep — we don’t recommend skipping rest on purpose and compensating with creatine.

(Image credit: Getty/VioletaStoimenova)
Creatine is largely regarded a safe supplement, but potential side effects include bloating (some Reddit users note digestive discomfort.) If you plan on introducing creatine to your diet, or upping your intake, consult with your doctor first.
Other methods to fight fatigue after a bad night’s sleep
Even with the best sleep hacks to help you drift off — everything from cognitive shuffling to drunken monkeys — some nights you just can’t avoid bad snooze.
On the mornings you wake up feeling as if you only just climbed into bed, these methods can help you stay awake… and maybe even stay alert.
1. Stay hydrated
Listen, if you’ve been up all night you’ve probably abandoned your coffee mug for a bucket. But while caffeine can help you feel alert, be sure to alternate your cappuccinos with cups of water.
Dehydration increases fatigue and while caffeine does hydrate you, water is still the best way to top up your fluid levels.
And if you’re relying on coffee to wake you up, we recommend cutting it out after lunch. Caffeine can stay in your system many hours after digestion, meaning even though you feel bone tired, this stimulant can keep you alert.
2. Get sunlight
Light regulates our circadian rhythms — morning sun tells the body to produce cortisol, helping us wake up, while darkness encourages melatonin production, making us fall asleep.

(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you’re struggling to kickstart your morning, try taking your breakfast outside, or sipping your coffee in a spot of sunshine.
And top up your sunlight levels during the day by getting out at lunch. An early evening stroll is another way to improve your sleep (something we’ll dive into below.)
3. Get active
While it’s tempting to abandon good habits when you’re feeling tired, rather than bed rotting and binge watching, it’s better to get active.
Exercise can improve energy levels and oxygen circulation, so you feel more alert. If you’ve slept poorly, you probably want to avoid a vigorous gym session but an evening walk, light jog or yoga session can give you energy without tiring you out.
And as another benefit, exercise can help you sleep. By staying active during the day, you’re more likely to drift off at night. In contrast, a day spent lying in bed is likely to make it harder to fall asleep.

Social Links Navigation
Senior Sleep staff Writer

Ruth is a staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things mattress and sleep. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. At Tom’s Guide she writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of specialists who share her passion. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

LATEST ARTICLES

How to watch free streaming service RTE online from anywhere — Champions League, Love Island, The Traitors & More

Don’t wait for Black Friday — get $300 off the Saatva Classic mattress now before prices go up

My favorite Skechers are on sale from $21 — here’s 13 fall styles I recommend shopping now

AirPods Pro 3 Live Translation — here’s how to use it

‘The Diplomat’ season 3 trailer teases dangerously deeper tensions for Keri Russell’s ambassador

Tom’s Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Terms and conditions

Contact Future’s experts

Privacy policy

Cookies policy

Accessibility Statement

Advertise with us

Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait…