Can Oversleeping Be Harmful And How to Deal With It
You know the feeling. You look at the clock, see that it’s almost time to get up and boom! You’re asleep again in 10 seconds flat.
Why Do We Oversleep?
If you’re trying to get pregnant, it could be that your sleep cycle is out of sync with your female partner’s, so you are sleeping at different times. Or perhaps you’re going through a stressful event or change in life and your body is trying to cope by sleeping more to reset itself. Oversleeping can also be a sign of depression. If you are waking up feeling tired and it’s hard to get out of bed, this could be a sign you are depressed and need professional help. Depression is a serious health issue that can be treated and managed.
What’s So Bad About Oversleeping?
Oversleeping can cause you to gain weight and mess with your metabolism. It can also increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. It can make you more likely to miss appointments and have accidents because you are not fully awake or alert. It can also be bad for your relationships because it can cause resentment in your partner if they are always waking up before you. And lastly, it can make you look and feel terrible. If your body is sluggish and groggy, you can’t give your best at work or be at your best during your social life. You will feel tired and irritable, which isn’t great for your mental health either.
Tips To Help You Stay Awake
1. Try napping if you’re having trouble staying awake during the day. But don’t sleep too long or you could wake up feeling groggy or oversleep again at night.
2. Get to bed earlier. This is the simplest way to avoid oversleeping. If you are going to bed at a decent time, you don’t have as much opportunity to sleep too long.
3. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. These two can disrupt sleep and make you more likely to oversleep.
4. Exercise. Going for a walk or doing some light exercise during your day can help you feel more awake and energized.
5. Write down your worries. If you are going through a stressful time, you may be sleeping more as your body tries to cope. Writing down your worries can be a helpful way to process them and clear your mind so you can sleep better.
6. Try breathing techniques or try listening to short affirmational lectures to put your thoughts in order.
7. Change your mattress. If you’ve had your mattress for a while and it’s getting worn out, it’s much harder to stay awake. Investing in a new mattress and sleeping on an old, worn out mattress can make it harder to stay awake.
If you are consistently waking up late and having trouble staying awake during the day, you may be oversleeping. There are a few ways to help yourself stay awake and feel more energized. If you are going through a stressful event or change in life, it’s a good idea to keep track of how much you are sleeping to make sure it’s not too much. If you recognize any of these signs, it’s best to talk to a doctor because oversleeping can be a sign of a larger problem.
The author of this article is a therapist from the Sensera app. Sensera is a daily 10-minute self-therapy app. It’ll help you to cope with various mental problems (anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues). Feel better with CBT audio sessions and exercises. Download now to become happier!
