Have you tried to catch some ZZZs over the weekend? Or you’ve just overslept and couldn’t hear your 8AM alarm. Whatever it is, oversleeping, or accumulating more than 9 hours of sleep in a day can happen for countless reasons.
If it happens once or twice, then it may not be something to worry much about, as we all experience moments where things take precedence over sleep and we pull an all-nighter. But, if oversleeping becomes consistent it may mean an overlying health issue is at play.
So, our Sleep Experts at Emma are here to help break down the idea of oversleeping and offer tips on what you can do if you to combat it:
What is Oversleeping?
Oversleeping, or long sleeping, is defined as sleeping more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. Sounds familiar? You may have experienced this when you stay up all night to finish that project and then try to make up for that sleep loss on the weekend. Adults usually need around 7-9 hours of sleep a night to function at their peak during the day, but of course, sleep varies and some adults can function well with just 6 hours of sleep.
If an hour of shut eye helps you feel your best, then that may be the right amount of sleep for your body; however, if sleeping makes you feel tired and sluggish when you wake, or when headaches tend to occur after sleep, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue.
What Causes Oversleeping?
Whether it’s the working hours, sleeping through an illness, or just an irregular sleep schedule, oversleeping happens when you’re in sleep debt. What does that mean? It’s your body’s way of trying to balance out the lack of sleep you may have had nights prior. We cover more about sleep debt in our other article here. Other than that, sleep apnea, anxiety, insomnia, and other health issues may also be a lead cause to oversleeping.
How To Combat Oversleeping
Just like undersleeping, oversleeping can affect bodily functions and can lead to some negative effects like mental distress, body inflammation and lowered body immunity. So to help curb oversleeping, we suggest implementing healthy habits to improve your overall sleep schedule. Things like creating a bedroom routine, taking afternoon naps, and keeping active during the day can help you relax and prepare for sleep when night rises. In need of detailed tips? We’ve curated the easiest bedtime routine for you to check out here.
