3 Reasons Oversleeping May Harm Your lifestyle
Have you ever felt like a train-wreck after sleeping too many hours? Oversleeping is a guilty pleasure with some unintended and harmful consequences. Simply put, too much sleep may harm your lifestyle. That said, it is also important to remember that oversleeping is NEVER as harmful as under sleeping.
Oversleeping messes with our biological clocks (circadian rhythms) which may result in behavior changes, physical pain, and changes to our general health. Throwing off your internal clock by sleeping longer than needed will make you feel lethargic, fatigued and drowsy! How’s that for a counter effective habit?
Oversleeping May Cause Headaches
If you are prone to headaches, sleeping longer hours may cause head pain. Oversleeping may affect certain neurotransmitters, including the brain’s serotonin. For some people prone to headaches, this may be a big deal; and resting on neck muscles while lying in bed may make the headache worst.
Oversleeping May Increase The Risk of Diabetes
A study conducted in the US of nearly 10,000 people found a correlation between oversleeping and diabetes (not to mention that the more hours your sleep, the less active you are during the day). The research found that individuals who sleep more than 9 hours a day had a 50% higher risk of developing diabetes. While the research did not draw any affirmative conclusions – we do know that individuals with abnormal blood sugar levels and/or diabetes will experience excessive drowsiness and fatigue throughout their day – which may lead to oversleeping.
Oversleeping May Increase The Risk of Obesity
It’s a simple fact – if you accustom your body to oversleeping 10 hours a day, you will burn less calories. Individuals who sleep over 9 hours each day are 20% more likely to become obese across a 6 year period. Interestingly enough, this statistic holds true even if the person exercises on a regular basis.
4 Easy-To-Follow Tips To Avoid Oversleeping
- University of Georgia researchers found that individuals who exercise on a regular basis could increase energy by 20% while decreasing fatigue by as much as 65%.
- Have something exciting to get up for. It is much easier to get out of bed when you know something exciting awaits; such as trying a new teeth whitening recipe, yoga, or tasting a new flavor coffee/tea.
- Adjust your sleep habits so that you fall asleep and awaken around the same time during most day.
- Place your alarm clock further away from the bed. You will actually have to “get up” to turn it off.
Are you sleeping too much? Remember that oversleeping can have negative side effects. In order to stay sound, it is critical that we maintain a proper level of sleep; around 8 hours for active adults.
About the Author
Carlos Alvarez is a holistic lifestyle blogger and a dedicated gym goer. Carlos enjoys topics ranging from holistic lifestyle to healthy regimens. Carlos counts calories and exercises on a regular basis.
Mardene Carr
April 26, 2016I don’t think I will ever have that problem. My mind works overtime so there is always something to jump put of bed to do
View CommentSonnie
April 26, 2016The risk for diabetes and obesity should keep us all on our toes, haha! In our part of the world though, we are more prone to lack sleep than oversleep. Oversleeping is a pleasure that we can only enjoy on our day-off, haha!
View CommentBernadette Callahan
April 25, 2016I dont think I could oversleep if I wanted to. I have 5 kids and they start getting up at 5:30am and then I just stay up from there. I can not get more than 5/6 hours of sleep, if I get any more or less I am all off for the day.
View CommentMaureen
April 25, 2016Wow! I didn’t realize oversleeping, headaches & diabetes were related. Your post was really informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing it.
View CommentCrystal Green
April 25, 2016I wish I was getting ENOUGH sleep. I don’t get nearly enough sleep to stay functioning on some days. However, there was a period in my life when I did oversleep far more than I should have.
View CommentLiz Mays
April 25, 2016These are some great things to keep in mind. I tend to wake up at the same time every day but my bed time does vary.
View CommentKat
April 25, 2016I have definitely experienced sleeping too much and waking up with a headache. That has been many years ago, though. Just a couple of weeks ago, my husband’s hours drastically changed. He used to work a late shift and get home at midnight. Now, our idea of “sleeping in” is getting up at 7:30 or 8:00 instead of 5:30am on my husband’s days off! He doesn’t like to get too far off of his schedule, so he doesn’t tend to want to stay up too late, so he can still get up early. I am naturally a night owl, so it has been a bit of a struggle for me to flip my schedule to become an early riser in order to spend more time with my husband.
View CommentSidney Aldaine
April 25, 2016Well, here`s what I do. And it`s all you warn us about: I tend to be up till the early morning, then sleep till late noon and often oversleeping. I think my self-discipline is to blame here.
View CommentGlenda Kruse
April 25, 2016Great post and reason not to oversleep! I have the opposite problem. I don’t get enough sleep which I know it is not good for us either.
View CommentCaros Alvarez
April 28, 2016Thank you Sara!
Good luck finding balance and achieving the right amount of sleep!
Carlos
View CommentSara
April 25, 2016Now everything makes sense! I am guilty of this almost every day, If I’m not oversleeping you can be sure I am under sleeping. Thanks for sharing these tips, Carlos!
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