It can be very unproductive when you feel very sleepy at a time you should be up and active. It makes sense if you feel like dozing off in the afternoons if you work long hours or if there is an unusual ton of work to do. However, if you often find it hard to keep yourself awake at times when you are expected to be attentive regardless of the amount of sleep you have been having, it can be a pretty serious concern.
With regards to sleeping, we tend to always measure it by quantity – how long did I sleep? When in reality, it is not the number of hours that should matter but the quality of your sleep. You may have slept for twelve hours yet get a bad headache when you get up or feel like you are lacking in energy during the day.
There could be various reasons why you always feel sleepy no matter how much sleep you get.
You are experiencing sleep disorder or disruptions
We have different body clocks and dissimilar sleeping routines. Not being able to follow your normal sleeping pattern may cause exhaustion during your waking hours. When this happens, you will find it difficult to keep yourself attentive during the day – you wake up feeling tired, disoriented, or sometimes lightheaded.
Here are possible causes of sleep disorders and disruptions:
- Disturbed breathing (snoring, gasping, etc)
- Light fragmented sleep
- Frequent awakening in the middle of sleep
- Sleep paralysis
- Sleepwalking, sleep talking, or other movements while sleeping
- Inability to fall asleep within 20 to 30 minutes
You do not have enough physical activity
Regular body movement allows our body to operate better in general and it helps us feel more awake. Not having enough physical activity in your day can make you feel more tired.
You drink too much caffeine
If you love drinking coffee or other food and drinks that have caffeine especially at night, your regular sleeping pattern may be disrupted. Caffeine is meant to keep us awake and energized, so if you consume an amount of this few hours before your bedtime, you may not be able to fall asleep on your desired time.
You are dehydrated
Not having enough water intake may result in dizziness and light-headedness, thus making you feel easily tired. When you are dehydrated, your blood circulation gets affected, making your heart less efficient and leads to exhaustion.
You spend too much time on your gadgets
Put your phone away from you before your bedtime. Well, not only your phone but other gadgets as well. Any form of electronics such as your television have blue screens that can trigger a hormone in your brain that keeps you awake instead of falling asleep. You may think that these gadgets actually help you fall asleep, but that idea is false.
You have mental health issues
Exhaustion is a sign of depression. If you often feel exhausted even if you get enough sleep at night, check on your mental health status. Depression can leave you feeling tired most of the time even without any valid reason. People suffering from this type of mental disorder often feel very tired and become uninterested in doing anything at all.
Depression is not the only mental health issue that may cause your daytime sleepiness – anxiety and stress may do as well. When you are in extreme stress, your energy dwindles, making you more lethargic than usual regardless of the number of hours you spend sleeping.
If you are experiencing these, it is best to consult a therapist to find out the best way to manage your health problems and avoid worsening your mental health issues.
You are not eating properly
A lot of people skip meals – usually breakfast, but breakfast is an especially important meal needed by our body. When you wake up in the morning, make sure you take in healthy fuel enough to keep your body systems working the entire day in its best condition possible.
Added: If you do not eat enough, you may experience iron deficiency and lack of Vitamin B which may result in unusual sleepiness during the day. A great source of both iron and Vitamin B (including vitamin B12) is lamb meat, so make sure to incorporate it into your diet. Lamb meat is best when prepared by following a healthy recipe, such as a salad or soup. Head on over to Try Lamb to find great, delicious, and simple lamb recipes to boost your iron and vitamin B levels.
Sleep plays an essential role in our physical and mental well-being. If you wish to have a restful sleep and wake up refreshed every day, be more aware of your daily activities and take note of the poor practices which may be affecting your health. A healthier lifestyle leads to healthier sleep.
