Do You Get Too Much Sleep?

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Can oversleeping really be a bad thing?

How getting the right amount of zzz’s can drastically affect your energy throughout the day and more.

According to studies by Harvard Health, restricting your sleep may actually be one of the keys to boosting your energy. Too little or too much sleep can increase your perception of fatigue. And even if you get enough hours of sleep, you might find yourself dragging the next day if that sleep was interrupted by frequent awakenings or was of poor quality.

If you think you may be sleep-deprived, try getting less sleep. This advice may sound odd but determining how much sleep you actually need can reduce the time you spend in bed not sleeping. This process makes it easier to fall asleep and promotes more restful sleep in the long run. Here's how to do it:

Avoid napping during the day.
The first night, go to bed later than normal and get just four hours of sleep.
If you feel that you slept well during that four-hour period, add another 15–30 minutes of sleep the next night.
As long as you're sleeping soundly the entire time you're in bed, slowly keep adding sleep on successive nights.

In addition to energy levels, getting too much sleep can also cause other serious issues. According to WebMD.com, here are some medical problems that can also be linked to oversleeping:

Diabetes
Obesity
Headaches
Back Pain
Depression
Heart Disease
Higher Death Rate

Regardless of the cause of your oversleeping, practicing good sleep hygiene will help you reap the benefits of a healthy 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Experts recommend being consistent and keeping the same bedtimes and wake times every day. They also recommend avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime. Exercising regularly and making your bedroom a comfortable environment that's conducive to sleep will help you get the amount of sleep you need.