When you have kids, being tired becomes a way of life. A defining characteristic. Part of your personality.

Everyone gets tired as they get older, but when children are part of the equation, recovering lost energy is a lot more difficult. The idea of being able to catch up on sleep is a silly enough myth to begin with, but when you’re a parent desperate for an energy boost, it’s the straight-up Holy Grail.

So is it true? Are parents doomed to be forever tired? Or is there hope?

I broke it down for you, flowchart style. Because SCIENCE.

(Don’t shoot the messenger.)