I was sleeping a lot. I can even remember saying to a friend or two in the last six months that 8 hours just isn’t enough for me. I need more. Nine or 10 maybe. But the weird thing is I also knew I had not always been this way. I used to sleep less. Need less. This made me wonder, can you sleep too much?
Can You Sleep Too Much?
Over time, I allowed myself to sleep a little more thinking it would help me be at my best and that it was what I needed. Fast forward to today. I’ve recently started eating even healthier and I’m back on my multivitamins. Sleeping 8 hours has been plenty for me lately. Even 7 will do. I wake up refreshed and eager to tackle the day.
This left me thinking maybe my body didn’t need that sleep. Maybe I was coping. Maybe I had nutritional deficiencies that were leaving me exhausted each day. Maybe I was caught in a cycle of oversleeping which can lead to depression, stress and more. Today I want to share a few facts about the amount of sleep adults need daily, and to answer the title of this post. Yes, you can sleep too much.
Can You Sleep Too Much?
• It’s called oversleeping and there are real side effects including: diabetes, heart disease and increased risk of death.
• The amount of sleep you need varies throughout life. During times of stress or illness you may need more.
• People who oversleep can feel symptoms of anxiety, low energy and have memory problems.
• Oversleepers typically sleep 9+ hours a night on a regular basis.
• In rare circumstances someone may need 9+ hours of sleep per night. A doctor can help advise if this is the case for you. Less than 2 percent of the population falls into this category.
• What should you do if you fall under any of these categories or symptoms? See your family physician, ask questions and get assistance in finding out why you may be oversleeping.
• How many hours of sleep is normal or needed for a typical adult? Experts say 7 to 8 hours per night.
Sources: WebMD, The Washington Post, Mayo Clinic
Good article on a subject that we don’t pay nearly enough attention to these day. Although getting little sleep is much more common than too much, I wonder if they aren’t related. Even though you’re spending more time in bed perhaps the quality of sleep is so poor that it’s really too little. .
Sleep is grossly underrated in our culture. Left to my own devices, I get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep a night. And that makes me happy! (Left to a regular family schedule, I am lucky to get 7.)
I refuse to believe that oversleeping is a thing, but maybe it is.