How to Stop Yawning and Why You Yawn Often

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Do you wonder how to stop yawning when it happens too often? Yawning is a natural thing that everyone does. It is a reflex that you cannot control. Your mouth opens wide, you take in a deep breath, and then you slowly breathe out. Most people yawn several times each day, and this is completely normal.

However, some people yawn much more than others. When you yawn too much, it becomes a problem. Excessive yawning can make it hard to focus at work or school. It can also make people think you are bored or tired during important meetings. If you want to know how to stop yawning, you need to understand why it happens.

In this article, we will learn how to stop yawning and why you yawn too much every day. We will also talk about how yawning can be contagious. We gathered the information from various sources, Monday (13/10/2025).

If you yawn too often, there are many simple things you can do to help. These tips are easy to follow and can make a big difference in your daily life.

Get Enough Sleep Each Night

Sleep is very important for your body and brain. When you do not sleep enough, your body tries to stay awake by making you yawn. Try to sleep seven to eight hours every night and go to bed at the same time each day.

Drink Water Throughout the Day

According to the Calm website, when your body does not have enough water, you lose energy and this makes you yawn more often. Keep a water bottle with you and drink from it regularly. If your mouth feels dry or you feel tired, drink more water.

Take Deep Breaths

Sometimes stress or worry can make you yawn more. When you feel stressed, try breathing exercises. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold your breath for a few seconds, and then breathe out through your mouth. This helps calm your body and can reduce yawning.

Move Your Body

Sitting in one place for a long time can make you feel sleepy and yawn more. Stand up and walk around for a few minutes. Stretch your arms and legs. Movement wakes up your body and brain.

Keep Your Room Cool

Lam Clinic says that yawning cools your brain and helps control body temperature, which makes you more alert. A warm room makes you yawn more. Open a window or turn on a fan to keep cool air flowing around you.

Splash Cold Water on Your Face

When you feel very sleepy and start yawning, go to the bathroom and splash cold water on your face. The cold water wakes you up quickly. You can also drink cold water or eat cold fruit like apples or grapes.

Do Something Interesting

Boredom is a big reason why people yawn. If your work or activity is not interesting, your brain becomes less active. Try to change your tasks often. Listen to music, talk to someone, or do a puzzle. Keeping your mind busy helps prevent yawning.

Check Your Medications

Some medicines can make you yawn more as a side effect. If you started yawning a lot after taking a new medicine, talk to your doctor. They might be able to change your medicine or adjust the amount you take.

Understanding why you yawn so much is important. There are many different reasons, from simple tiredness to health problems.

You Are Very Tired

Lam Clinic explains that when you are tired and yawn too much, your body sends more oxygen through your blood to help you stay awake. When you do not sleep well, you can yawn much more than the normal five to ten times a day.

You Have Sleep Problems

Sleep disorders like sleep apnea or insomnia can cause excessive yawning. These conditions prevent you from getting good rest at night. Even if you spend eight hours in bed, you might not sleep well. This makes you very tired during the day and causes more yawning.

Your Medicine Has Side Effects

According to the Calm website, medicines for depression, anxiety, and allergies can cause yawning because they change the way your brain works or reduce your energy. Antidepressants and some pain medications can have this effect on your body.

You Feel Stressed or Anxious

Stress and worry can change how you breathe and how your heart works. This can trigger more yawning. Your body might use yawning as a way to deal with strong emotions or feeling overwhelmed. Managing stress can help reduce yawning.

You Are Dehydrated

Not drinking enough water makes you feel tired and unfocused. When your body does not have enough water, your energy drops significantly. This tiredness can lead to more yawning as your body tries to stay alert. Make sure you drink water regularly throughout the day.

You Have a Health Condition

Sleep Foundation reports that brain and nerve problems like migraines, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and stroke can make people yawn more often. Yawning may help these people feel a little better from their symptoms. If you experience other symptoms, see a doctor.

Your Brain is Too Hot

Your brain needs to stay at the right temperature to work well. Yawning helps cool down your brain. If you are in a very warm place or your body temperature rises, you might yawn more often to help regulate your brain temperature.

Have you ever noticed that when one person yawns, others start yawning too? This is called contagious yawning, and it happens to almost everyone. You might even yawn when you see someone yawn on television or when you read about yawning.

Scientists believe contagious yawning is related to empathy and social connections. Lam Clinic notes that people yawn more after seeing family members or siblings yawn compared to seeing strangers or acquaintances yawn. This means you are more likely to copy a yawn from people you feel close to. It shows how humans are connected to each other emotionally.

Contagious yawning usually starts when children are about four or five years old. This is the same time when children begin to understand other people's feelings. The yawn might be a way to show that you understand someone else is tired or bored. It is a silent message that passes between people without words. This interesting behavior shows how our brains and bodies react to the people around us.