We all know that too little sleep can have detrimental effects on our daily lives, but did you know that too much sleep can also have a negative impact on your well being?  Over sleeping can also weaken our immune system making us more susceptible to getting common colds or the flu.  You do not hear people complaining about getting too much sleep too often, it’s usually the other way around.  However, getting more than 9 hours of sleep a night may leave us feeling even more tired throughout the day, especially during the afternoon hours.  So, what can we do to avoid this sluggish mood all day?

The key is to get a better quality of rest as opposed to quantity.  In addition, our sleep needs to be optimized so we can essentially sleep less and feel more energized.  When we wake up in the morning, our body temperature takes awhile to reach normal levels or it may not reach its peak at all making us feel drowsy and lethargic.  Deep REM sleep is proven to be the most restful and deepest sleep which is the most important for all functions of the body.

The idea of pure boredom, lack of motivation, or just being depressed can also be the reason we are sleeping too much, so try to think of evening activities you might enjoy.  They might include a board game, arts and crafts, or exploring any other creative outlet – just use your imagination.  Try to not reward yourself on the weekends with sleeping in, as this will lead to disrupting your natural sleep cycle.  You want to train your body to wake up on the weekdays without an alarm clock.

Bright light therapy is also an option if you often find yourself groggy in the morning.  By placing an artificial light next to your bed, it will help raise the serotonin in your brain while bringing melatonin levels down when you first wake up in the morning.  It is primarily intended to help you wake up and increase your energy, but it is also used for people with SAD.  Seasonal affective disorder causes depression from the lack of natural sunlight during short days during the winter months.  People with jet lag can also benefit from these lights.  It is essential to be mindful of your sleeping habits so you can achieve your fullest potential.