The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that 1 in 3 adults in America don’t get enough sleep. But what if you’re dealing with the reverse issue of oversleeping? For a few of us, sleep is a form of escapism. The mantra goes: if you’re asleep, you’re not facing real issues.
However, this excess of shut-eye can be detrimental to your health. Some studies even link it to higher blood pressure and weight problems. After all, oversleeping does limit the hours which you are active. In addition, it can lower the quality of rest you get, so here are some quick tips to finding that happy, healthy balance.
Easy Level
- Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals — Prevent food coma & exhaustion.
- Get Active — Exercise, take a brisk walk outside, and breathe fresh air.
- Stay Away from Comfy Couches and Bed — This is especially true when you work from home. Remove the opportunity to feel too cozy sitting or laying down.
- Drink Tea, Coffee or an Energy Drink. Caffeine, as a last resort, will help keep you up during the long day. If you’re allergic or cutting caffeine from your system, then substitute these beverages with a hydrating glass of ice cold water instead!
Medium Level
- Learn Something New — Start a Coursera, Lynda, Duolingo, MIT OpenCourseWare, or Khan Academy class. Fun lessons on your subject of choice will keep your mind alert and distracted from the desire to sleep.
- Make a List of To Do and Daily Goals — This simple habit will motivate you to be more productive and accountable for everyday tasks.
- Get Enough Sleep the Night Prior — Re-adjust your schedule to get enough Zs. Or during the day, put your phone across the room, and set an alarm for a 10–20 minute power nap.
Hard Level
- Put Your Money where your Mouth is — Schedule a daily post, where you promise to pay your friends $5 if you don’t get up by your desired time.
- Find Introspection. Use a journal to figure out what’s causing you to oversleep. Poor schedule? Added stress from ongoing issues? Health problems? Stay aware and commit to finding a solution, even if they’re baby steps.
Hope this helps! If you have any tricks of your own, feel free to share. I’d love to learn what you do to manage a fulfilling sleep schedule.
Sleepy Woman Resting on the Ledge by Hernan Sanchez via Unsplash
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out the rest at at On The Brain.
