There are plenty of reasons why you may be sleeping so much. These can be physical, psychological or related to your lifestyle.
Everybody’s different. Some people would jump at the chance to sleep in all day. Others have trouble switching off and can feel the urge to be up and ready early in the morning.
We love to sleep here at Lion Mattresses, but also understand that too much or too little can be problematic. Let’s take a look at some reasons for why you may be oversleeping or feeling tired.
Why Do I Sleep So Much - Your Lifestyle
The things you do in your day to day life can have a drastic effect on your sleeping pattern. If you find that you’re always feeling tired, you may want to analyse your daily routine.
Let’s say for example that you work night shifts. Changing work patterns alone can be enough to ruin your sleep schedule.
Maybe you rely on a few cups of coffee or energy drinks to keep you alert through the long nights? Caffeine is a stimulant. Too much of it can wreak havoc on your sleep, leaving you feeling exhausted in the long run. Remember, there’s no substitute for sleep and all that caffeine will catch up with you eventually.
Exercise is also a contributing factor. We all know that exercising is good for you. It helps to keep your mind and body healthy. Not getting enough exercise can leave you feeling tired and lethargic. With that said, too much exercise can result in a similar outcome, so know your limits.
What you eat and drink also plays a role in how well you sleep. Too many fatty snacks, sugary foods and too much alcohol will affect the quality of your sleep, leaving you feeling more tired than usual.
Why Do I Sleep So Much - Psychological Causes
A person’s state of mind is one of the most common reasons for tiredness and poor-quality sleep. The human mind is a fascinating subject and there’s still so much we’re yet to understand about it.
Psychological effects can lead to insomnia, meaning you struggle to sleep. Other effects can also render you with urges to sleep much more than usual.
A person who is struggling to sleep may be suffering from stress, anxiety or have experienced emotional trauma.
On the other hand, a person who is depressed may sleep more than usual. Anxiety can also leave an individual feeling tired and wanting to sleep.
If you haven’t already, you should speak to your GP if you feel that you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned. They will be able to advise appropriate treatments which could lead to you feeling better and sleeping better.
Why Do I Sleep So Much - Physical Causes
There are many physical causes of tiredness. Some of these can be related to health conditions such as sleep apnoea, anaemia or an underactive thyroid.
Your weight can also influence how tired you’re feeling. An overweight person’s body needs to work harder throughout the day. This means that they’ll use more energy which could leave them feeling tired. On the opposite side, an underweight person is likely to have poor muscle strength. This will lead the body to tire quicker than usual.
A pregnant woman is also likely to feel more tired and sleep more than usual. A body goes through substantial changes during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. This creates a greater demand for energy use, which is likely to leave a pregnant woman feeling tired.
Another reason for tiredness could be linked to any medication you’ve been prescribed. Reading the side effects of your medication will inform you whether they can cause drowsiness.
The reason for your tiredness could also be related to how comfortable you are. If you're feeling uncomfortable at night, why not upgrade your mattress? We stock a wide range of memory foam mattresses all designed to help you sleep better at night.
Talk to Your GP
If you’re concerned about tiredness or your reasons for oversleeping, you should always visit your GP. This is the best means to diagnose your reason for feeling tired and/or oversleeping.