Why You Should Never Sleep Too Much
We all know that too much of anything is bad for us. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, too much alcohol can damage our liver, and too much time spent on social media can erode our self-esteem.
But does anyone ever talk about the repercussions of having too much sleep?
Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as sleeping too much. We often hear how detrimental to our health and lives it is when we don’t get enough sleep, but an abundance of sleep comes with its own set of problems. Let’s explore some of them below.
9 reasons why you shouldn’t sleep too much
1. You’re more likely to suffer from depression
One study found that people who regularly sleep for more than 9 hours are more likely to be depressed than those who get a normal amount (7-9 hours) of sleep.
Even if we were to take this study with a grain of salt, as it seems to be the only one to make this connection, sleeping more than usual could also be a sign that you’re already suffering from depression.
2. You’re more likely to gain weight
If you’re trying to lose weight, getting more sleep might seem like the logical thing to do. After all, when we’re tired, we’re more likely to make bad food choices and have less energy to exercise. We’re also unable to eat while we sleep, thereby fasting for a longer period.
However, studies have found that people who sleep for more than 8 hours a day are more likely to be obese than those who get a normal amount of sleep.
This could be because we tend to make up for lost sleep by eating more during the day or because our metabolism slows down when we’re asleep.
3. You’re more likely to get diabetes
Believe it or not, sleeping too much can increase your risk of developing diabetes. This could be because when we sleep for too long, our bodies have a harder time regulating blood sugar levels and thus we’re more likely to develop insulin resistance.
4. You’re more likely to die early
When you oversleep, you increase your risk of dying early. A likely explanation for this is that people who sleep for more than 8 hours a day are more likely to suffer from health problems linked to obesity, such as diabetes and heart diseases – all of which can lead to early death.
5. You may have trouble concentrating
You know how it feels to be sleep deprived – your mind is foggy and it’s hard to focus on anything. Well, the same goes for when you’ve had too much sleep.
You might find that you have a harder time concentrating on tasks and that your memory isn’t as sharp as it usually is. That’s because when you sleep, your brain enters into a slow-wave sleep state where information processing and consolidation occur.
If you’re constantly in this state, your brain doesn’t have time to process and consolidate information properly, leading to problems with concentration and memory. This, in turn, might also lead to headaches.
6. You’ll feel sluggish and groggy
When you sleep for more than 8 hours, you’ll likely wake up feeling groggy and sluggish. This is because your body isn’t used to being in a state of rest for that long and it takes time to adjust.
It’s also worth noting that the quality of your sleep suffers as well when you sleep for too long. You’re more likely to experience fragmented sleep and have a harder time reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep.
7. It’s detrimental to your body
Do you know what bed sores are? They’re pressure sores that develop when you spend too much time in bed. They can be incredibly painful and take weeks or even months to heal.
But that’s not all – sleeping for too long can also lead to joint and back pain, as well as muscle weakness and atrophy. That’s because our bodies weren’t designed to be in a state of rest for extended periods.
8. You’ll get less done
Naturally, the more you sleep, the less time you’ll have to get things done. This can be a problem if you have a lot of responsibilities or if you’re trying to meet a deadline.
It can also lead to problems at work, as you might find yourself falling behind on tasks or not being able to focus when you’re there.
9. Life will pass you by
It’s said that throughout our lifetime, human beings sleep for roughly 26 years! That’s almost 1/3 of our lives if we live to be 80.
We’re already losing a lot of time when we sleep for normal hours, but if we’re constantly sleeping, we’re missing out on even more. We miss out on time with our friends and family, time to pursue our hobbies, and time to live our lives to the fullest.
Conclusion
Getting a good night’s sleep is more precious than gold. Our bodies and brains need time to rest and recover from the day’s stresses.
However, knowing where to draw the line when it comes to sleep is important. Too much sleep can be equally as harmful as too little sleep, and it’s something that we should all be mindful of.
If you find yourself oversleeping regularly, it might be worth considering making some changes to your lifestyle. Creating a bedtime routine and sticking to it can help ensure that you get the right amount of sleep each night.
