Why Do We Stretch in the Morning?

Humans (and our pets) frequently instinctively stretch as soon as we wake up. But why? What is happening in our bodies when we stretch and yawn to wake ourselves up?
Hosted by: Hank Green
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[@Yapity111]

This morning, when my alarm went off, I stretched into such a comfortable position, I slept for another 8 minutes.

[@alternativecornn]

☠️

[@subhasisjoshi8135]

😂😂😂

[@raghugopi8335]

Thanks for the constant info @Scishow

[@SciShow]

You bet! Thank you!

[@bluetannery1527]

+SciShow who on the staff just replied? :O

[@krymsynrayne]

+Zachariah Lecter "The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek, and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi is mistakenly formed according to rules for Latin plurals, and is therefore incorrect." -source: The Oxford Dictionary

[@krymsynrayne]

+Zachariah Lecter Adding modern words to the dictionary does not equal butchery. Languages evolve and change over time. Keeping the dictionary updated is a good thing.

[@krymsynrayne]

+Zachariah Lecter Also, yes, you are correct, binomial names are always latin. However, the word 'octopus' is still a Greek word, not Latin.

[@Funnymoney101]

Roses are red Violets are blue jokes on you I wake up at 2

[@0CityHusky0]

Same.

[@krisannmartinez503]

haha😂 i cantt😂

[@General12th]

Roses are red. Violets are blue. Sugar is sweet. And so are you.

[@craftykittygaming7820]

Roses are red Violets are violet. Being right > rhyming.

[@Funnymoney101]

roses are red violets are violets you can't hate on rhyming if you ain't trying

[@emhapz]

save you the 2 minutes and 34 seconds. We stretch to get blood flowing and to get our heart rate up

[@spoiledsalad1851]

thx

[@andyperez3280]

thanks Emma😉

[@danielcucumber2027]

Now save me money on car insurance!

[@doitfordale2946]

My Nigga!

[@hidekitom0]

+Aaron Madrid did you Know that 15 minutes can save you 15% or more on car insurance when you switch to Geico?

[@xmaddiejanex7822]

"Many people lie in the same position for most of the night" WOOP NOT ME!!! *wakes up diagonal and upside down*

[@jugzster]

Seeing Hank instantly makes me smile. Love the lively way he presents😀

[@bunnella3]

I don't yawn. I let out the screams from the deepest darkest depths of hell

[@chatoyantpaw]

-El Guaco You literally made me yawn because I read your comment

[@Aelffwynn]

Watching Hank stretch at the beginning made me stretch. It was like yawning-- I couldn't help it.

[@ricardovivas7686]

Why do we make memes?

[@markkeilys]

same reason we make anything.. hopes of it living beyond our own lifespan thereby in some way increasing it.

[@poopfart785]

this physical meme was named Kim Jung Un

[@edwardcarrington3531]

Because of chronic depression

[@doodlestorm1706]

Cause they're awesome!

[@putuindra3707]

Why not?

[@crazycatlady39]

First thing in the morning? Say some nasty stuff to your alarm clock. Lol!

[@joolzzenda]

pandiculate is an awesome word :) I need to find ways to slip it into conversation

[@General12th]

Try slipping it in your pickup lines for extra fun and profit!

[@General12th]

Shelly Bai That's... better than I was thinking.

[@slurpedcrispynoodles5440]

Ohhh 🌝

[@fredlee9362]

uh

[@austincurran8025]

Me: Guess what I like to do first thing in the morning when I wake up!..... I'll give you a hint...... it rhymes with articulate..... Girl: *slaps me in the face* You are disgusting

[@sudeeplunawat4153]

+SciShow this is the only channel im eager to watch !! thanks for such awesome informations!!! May God bless ur channel!!!

[@dawnwayfinder]

What causes the skin beneath our eyes to darken when we don't get enough sleep?

[@hhbassmanagement3365]

Good question we need this to be answered. props for thinking of it

[@chewynickerson]

this.....1000%

[@bex2]

I think it might have something to do with dehydration??? Actually that makes no sense and I know nothing about science

[@1kili2]

this could actually be a pretty accurate answer just think about it the layer of skin under your eyes feels like its thinner then most skin so when i dehydrates and contracts because of this it wraps thighter around the veins and muscles under it making them show through more which causes a dark tone to your skin the same way bruises can do, though this probably isnt the answer it might be a possible explanation

[@lightsidemaster]

Better question: Why does the skin beneath our eyes darken even if we get too much sleep? Like seriously, WTF?!

[@tomkuklinski2084]

I watch the full ad on every scishow video because I love this channel so much

[@ericalinx]

Love this!

[@henriklewis792]

How does this comment only have 4 likes...

[@IN-pr3lw]

@@henriklewis792 youtube was different 5 years ago

[@queenbee3100]

It feel so good

[@2ksubswithnovid362]

You, the One Reading this, Hope you have a Wonderful Day

[@2ksubswithnovid362]

+Neumonic Games n Reviews :)

[@SirMoohsAlot]

Why, you too Sir!

[@markcastillo2622]

Same to you good sir ^^

[@alexjordan8838]

Thank you very much my friend. I needed this today

[@TheMattyho]

But it's night now D;

[@patrickbourne3819]

I love that word pandiculating. "I was doing my morning pandiculating"

[@TacetCat]

Pandiculate might be one of my new favorite words, right up there with indeed and stoichiometry.

[@DHallstar09]

Finally!!! I've waited years for this video to come out.

[@LAB0132]

Anyone else constantly yawning watching this?

[@hussainattai4638]

Yep

[@briandoolittle3422]

I wasnt yawning but I was stretching a lot.

[@mitchshelleh768]

me too

[@pbfalcon215]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. A question pops into my mind so I throw it into the KZbin search bar and sideshow provides an answer that they gave me years ago keep up the fantastic learning

[@SlaphappyCOC]

Something rises in the morning and it's not the sun....

[@eldafint]

Hahahah

[@better2236]

Why u always lyin....mmmmmohmygawwwd.... stop fknnnn lyyyyinnnnn

[@ElenArroyo]

lol

[@tbm7301]

Morning wood...

[@Rahulbajaj561]

@@ElenArroyo stfu

[@jbox293]

This is such an interesting instinct. It's beautiful.

[@niccyknickers]

Stretching also affects your myofascial layer, reducing the 'fuzz' and allowing better movement. Please look into this more. It is a really interesting part of the body!!

[@ashleyklug4538]

i penualted the entire way through this video just thinking it! yawning is so contagious!

[@sean9920]

I just realized i dont pandiculate in the morning. I just lay in bed until the very last moment before its too late and so i get up rush to get my clothes on and brush my teeth then i leave the house.

[@WillChizzleMyNizzle]

Why did I just discover this channel? I love it!

[@jovax0450]

How many times did you pandiculate while watching this? Twice for me

[@sleepinganarchy3486]

0 For me.

[@haZedxClanz]

Once for me.

[@flszen]

I pandiculated furiously throughout the entire video.

[@secksysequin2580]

That would be the contagiousness of the yawn

[@hussainattai4638]

+billybassman21 I believe someone is attracted to hank....

[@twicey2314]

When my hamsters pandeculate its the most adorable thing ever !😍

[@Shindai]

Stretching is called pandiculating after the Latin word pandere, meaning to stretch... then ... just call it stretching :P

[@wajihbec1087]

that doesn't sound smart or fancy sooooo no.

[@ericlee3222]

Has to sound fancy

[@InorganicVegan]

Pandiculating is stretching while yawning

[@MaximillianRobesphereguill]

yandere?

[@Tfin]

But the root has nothing to do with yawning, and yawning is often stretching.

[@user-lp3ew1xb5u]

Good god, you guys do a fantastic job of putting fun information into a pretentious tone!

[@TheKYRw]

I always found sleeping funny. cuz ur body shuts down for like 8 hours. U don't eat. U don't drink. U don't pee or poop. U don't stretch. U don't yawn. U don't walk. U really don't move... For 8 hours. It's so weird to think

[@vegancomicnerd86]

It's 11 pm here and I just had a good stretch. Probably needed it from sitting in front of my computer all night watching youtube videos.

[@agentwashingtub9167]

What's the first thing I do in the morning? Slap that snooze button like an unwanted child. #YIAYMorning

[@sleepinganarchy3486]

Bad day?

[@General12th]

Where is the moment we needed the most You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost They tell me your blue skies fade to grey They tell me your passion's gone away And I don't need no carryin' on You stand in the line just to hit a new low You're faking a smile with the coffee to go You tell me your life's been way off line You're falling to pieces every time And I don't need no carryin' on 'Cause you had a bad day You're taking one down You sing a sad song just to turn it around You say you don't know You tell me don't lie You work at a smile and you go for a ride You had a bad day The camera don't lie You're coming back down and you really don't mind You had a bad day You had a bad day Well, you need a blue sky holiday The point is they laugh at what you say And I don't need no carryin' on You had a bad day You're taking one down You sing a sad song just to turn it around You say you don't know You tell me don't lie You work at a smile and you go for a ride You had a bad day The camera don't lie You're coming back down and you really don't mind You had a bad day (oh, on a holiday) Sometimes the system goes on the blink And the whole thing turns out wrong You might not make it back and you know That you could be well, oh, that strong And I'm not wrong (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) So where is the passion when you need it the most Oh, you and I You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost 'Cause you had a bad day You're taking one down You sing a sad song just to turn it around You say you don't know You tell me don't lie You work at a smile and you go for a ride You had a bad day You've seen what you like And how does it feel for one more time You had a bad day You had a bad day Had a bad day Had a bad day Had a bad day Had a bad day Had a bad day

[@1000Strikerz]

Wrong channel? XD

[@thatonedudebroman3599]

+Jordan Shank ew

[@sharanbo148]

I didn't know Jack was that well known

[@phandomwtf1322]

I love you, Hank. 😊

[@shpongloidia]

What about slapping around the morning wood?

[@General12th]

Why are you slapping it? Most guys just stroke theirs.

[@gingergamergirl98]

+Jordan Shank Omfg

[@corncakes6683]

@Jordan Shank you are a sad sad individual.

[@exthematrx]

BRUHHH LMAOOO

[@mayrar9164]

the fuck

[@elleart75]

I LOVE SCISHOW!!!

[@Emuhleigh]

Why is the line at the DMV SO DAMN LONG?

[@thiscatgames]

watching this made me realise i haven't stretched yet. thanks hank

[@garrettlee9511]

What's the limit on elasticity in our skin? Like why do people's gauges shrink back down until they go to a certain size? (I know at some point they stop shrinking back but I don't remember exactly when. )

[@rdizzy1]

Once mine were at double zero gauge they wouldn't go back to normal.

[@rdizzy1]

Nope, once mine was about 2 inches it was very close to tearing, I think maybe 4-5 inches would be the max and that is if you did it perfectly.

[@staticbeans]

i think thw amount of collagen in the skin has something to do with it because ive heard collagen help skin go back to its normal size.

[@1kili2]

well just ask cassandra, but dont forget to moisturize her!

[@Biffa2]

I literally couldn't stop yawning while watching this

[@Implosion-Gaming]

But I don't stretch in the morning...

[@Implosion-Gaming]

Now I want to...

[@diogenesofsynope3148]

Same

[@SeasonsMad042]

Can't hurt, I work in a factory doing moderate to heavy lifting all day. I stretch occasionally at work, and when I remember to I purposely stretch in the morning to loosen up stiff muscles. Makes the morning feel a lot better and go smoother in my opinion.

[@joelelliott7892]

Yay! A Hank show.

[@AragornRespecter]

What is the stuff in the corner of my eye when I wake up

[@ChaotikSpraya86]

Dried salty tears.

[@illudian]

it's called rheum and it's basically all the crap blinking normally removes but since you are sleeping you aren't blinking and so it builds up.

[@gingergamergirl98]

They did a video on that recently

[@cicadafun]

+gingergamergirl98 "recently"

[@SuperYtc1]

Cum

[@ryanbrown2517]

This video made me yawn more than it did educate me

[@Citiesinmotionplayer]

Um... I don't do this...?

[@At0micMeltd0wn]

You don't stretch...?

[@markmolenaar4479]

Lol me neither

[@markkeilys]

***** not first thing in the morning... i don't even yawn until i'm ready for bed again...

[@veganmichelle6571]

Me either...

[@CBDToTheRescue]

We don't care?

[@shanisaur5601]

Okay, I yawned pretty much every time he said yawn during this video! AAAHHH!

[@chatoyantpaw]

-Shanisaur Same, I also yawned every time I read it while looking through the comments.

[@TheBertjeT]

Do I stretch at night when I'm tired and yawn for the same reason or is there something different going on there?

[@Cyclonit]

During the later part of the day your muscles loose elasticity due to them being exhausted. Stretching them when you feel tired is likely an attempt of keeping your body going just a bit longer. You most likely know the feeling of your limbs being heavy when you're feeling sleepy, that's your muscles and circularitory system telling you to rest. As for the yawning, no idea.

[@TheBertjeT]

Thanks! The yawn wasn't a question, it was a descriptor.

[@kostasmetal7]

I yawned so many times while watching this video...!!

[@chatoyantpaw]

-Costa D'Ret I yawn every time I see, hear, read, or think of it.

[@GreerFried]

I don't stretch in the morning.

[@GreerFried]

But I got the urge to stretch after I read the title.

[@yonkoshah]

I used to stretch in the morning but I stopped for a long time without realizing it. I guess that's why I feel so exhausted in the morning...

[@MasterGXD]

+VII SHAMBLEZ i dont usualy stretch but when i do its only after a good nights sleep. so only like on the weekend or when i get to sleep without an alarm

[@PseudoResonance]

I stretch, but I don't pandiculate...

[@PseudoResonance]

+WolfLeader116 Actually even my stretching I put off for a while.... I don't do it immediately.

[@JoshDayTV]

Yes hank is back

[@those2vgplayers629]

You are about to find out who the most awesome person is Read the first word

[@vashchen3860]

Thanks! 😊

[@karanvirgosal4425]

Lmao this is dumb

[@Goldenpaw]

Awh

[@zachgirton8795]

lol

[@karanvirgosal4425]

+Spoopy the Great Am I talking to you? So you don't need to be involved.

[@kazeyasashi]

This video makes me yawn and yawn and yawn... Just cannot hold it back.

[@qj877]

Why do we close our eyes when we sneeze?

[@Cyclonit]

Actually there is no known reason for this. Many scientists and the Mythbusters tested if sneezing with your eyes open does any damage to your body and the results came back negative.

[@5heeshi]

The most likely reason is to protect the eyes. When you sneeze you spray saliva and other nasties which don't want in your eyes.

[@Cyclonit]

***** What direction do you sneeze in? o.O Unless you're standing right in front of a wall or a strong wind is blowing in your face, its very unlikely for your own sneeze to propel nasties into your eyes,

[@Rottensteam]

+Sufi Naqshbandi I think its because you're "out of control" for a brief time so might as well protect your eyes.

[@Cadam_]

I tried to keep my eyes open once and all I remember was my eyes hurting for a while afterwards.

[@davidmelo.]

great job man !

[@DrTartus]

how else stretched when they opened the video

[@edvargo291]

Very Cool! I love learning new words, it's soo interesting.

[@dkkempion8744]

No. NO! I don't stretch. I get up and go make coffee. Your assumptions are non sequitur.

[@Kroama]

Stretched this entire video, and it felt great.

[@destroyergirl8087]

So that’s why my heart starts pounding after I stretch

[@IrishAmericanconnection]

wakes up in the morning... hears MAC start up sound

[@Nathalorial]

So much yawning done during this video just because he mentioned it, lol.

[@AudrinaOralay]

This was a great thing to watch first thing after I wake up before going to a Latin quiz. Now I know a new verb and why I stretched while watching this video (it was involuntary, I promise.) Thanks for the great video, as always.

[@MonigMedia]

Oh I love paniculating all over the place. Some times while watching a video. Ah yes

[@heartfireful]

Thank you, sir. It's very inspiring.

[@S0PH1ASD0MA1N]

I love stretching. Feels good

[@sweetlorikeet]

Some people yawn and stretch, some of us groan and bury our faces in the pillow while huddling under the blankets.

[@lisazoria2709]

Seeing him stretch made me wanna stretch. I guess it's contagious.

[@MuhammedAltin]

That "Why" ar 0:57 made me thrust sodipop out of my nose.

[@PaperWaster]

"Make like a cat and pandiculate." - A timeless classic.

[@frosty3469]

0:47 get I do that too! Does that mean I'm a car or something? 😉😛

[@Neiot]

Thank you so much, SciShow, for providing me the proof I need that "pandiculating" is a word and not a euphemism for masturbation! I used the word a lot for years, and everyone always asked what it meant. :D

[@kristian3472]

Now I'm yawning like crazy...thanks!

[@AntiMessiah2023]

If the alarm clock wakes you up, your body isnt getting enough sleep. 😆

[@AntiMessiah2023]

Dustin Boyd lol.. fair point. But I think the 8 hour is just something made up. Some people feel fresh after 6 and some not even after 9 😊

[@someonewilson2257]

welcome to the 301 and under club

[@slnz5751]

when he said yawning @0:40 I yawned lol

[@violetystars]

I yawned like six times while watching this.

[@togepi5929]

I yawned like 7 times during this video what is this magic

[@FPSGameClips]

I hope I'm not the only one yawning and stretching nonstop like an idiot throughout this video...

[@vibesbyj189]

Am I the only one excited to see John Green?!

[@MB-to4wf]

Doesn't anyone else stretch right before they go to sleep? Every night before I sleep, I do a full body stretch and that really relaxes me.

[@TheNYgolfer]

I've noticed that I only stretch after waking up from a good night's sleep. More than 6 hours

[@ashtonnichols4569]

I used to watch him in school I have learned so much now I'm a doctor

[@justicar347]

I watched this while doing my morning stretches.

[@sharmaakshat]

I shake my legs , like vibrate them really fast after i wake up

[@MrMonkeykiller1996]

I can't be the only one who yawned like 10 times during the video

[@shell-lw3py]

because we need to stretch. simple answer, saved you a few minutes.

[@2100qasw]

CAN'T WAIT TILL I SLEEP AND WAKE UP AGAIN TO TRY

[@Name_67123]

stretch not stress -shenzai lolololol

[@MatiasAlric]

First thing i did this morning? i watched this video. For real, I left the tab open last night.

[@christineheminger7762]

I don’t always yawn; I just meant the kind of stretch that you do when you first get up from sitting or lying down. I found out that if I passively resist moving (similar to trying not to open your mouth when yawning) my muscles will try So hard to make me stretch. I also wanted , and found, the term for this sort of stretching specifically-not the pre-workout kind. Sometimes when I stretch like this my whole body feels like I’m going to collapse. I’m trying to find out why. I have a node on an adrenal gland and have been very stressed lately, but this doesn’t happen every day.

[@FutureWorldNow]

And then sometimes you find things on KZbin that totally answer a question you didn't know you had!

[@gomagoma313]

"pandiculate" this elegant name will make my life a tiny bit happier.

[@orafranc237]

involuntary stretches that all of a sudden feel soooo good as opposed to the purposely done workout stretch

[@Ragesauce]

Jokes on you, I don't even stretch in the morning

[@aneeqaanwar5931]

Anyone ever have that good stretch that you do and you don’t want it to stop! Just me okay

[@Nenad-ICXC-Shuput-GFAMMA]

Wow your been beating around the bush, and at the end you have explained Notting new.

[@Nenad-ICXC-Shuput-GFAMMA]

Plus that is so not the very purpose of the instinctive statiching in the morning.

[@scarlett-gg8cm]

Fuck that shit I'm practically rolling on the floor in the morning.

[@catspaw97]

wow, thank you, that was pretty interesting!