Help! Why am I sleeping so much?
We can probably all agree that sleeping is an excellent way to spend free time. But if you've been leaning hard into the "sleep is life" philosophy, you might find yourself wondering, Why is my body obsessed with sleep, and is that healthy and fine? These are great questions, and also they're a little tricky to answer.
The challenge of getting to the root of your sleep situation stems from this fact: Sleep patterns are unique to us. "There are no golden rules that apply to everyone," says Joshua Tal, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep. While clocking a solid 10 hours might alarm you, that could be the bare minimum for someone else.
So, how much sleep is too much sleep? Like we said, everyone's sleep threshold is different, but there are some clear signs that your body is crying, More sleep pls! Dr. Tal says you're right to suspect that something is off if you're getting plenty of sleep but can't stay awake during the day (also referred to as excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS) or if you've been sleeping an hour or two more than your average sleep time for the last one to four weeks.
Below, we'll explain more about why you could be so damn tired all the time and what you can do about it.
1. You're burned out.
If you've ever been mentally burned to a crisp, you know how much it sucks. This struggle is caused by prolonged stress. Though the World Health Organization attributes burnout to work stress, it can happen for a lot of reasons, including caregiving (see: caregiver burnout).
The idea is that if you're doing too much at work, at home, or both, over time it can impact you mentally and physically—including your sleep habits, says Dr. Tal. You might cancel plans to catch up on Zs, get 11 hours and still feel exhausted, or feel generally unmotivated to do anything that's not being unconscious.
If you think burnout is behind your longer slumbers, find ways to relax and give yourself a chance to rest, says therapist Alo Johnston, LMFT. Over time, as you feel more rested, you'll be able to get back on your feet and ready to tackle whatever's on your plate (while taking as many breaks as you can, of course).
Keep reading to learn how the seasons, stress, and depression can also play a role in why you're sleeping so much.
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