Hidden Reasons Why You’re Always Sleepy and Tired

‘A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands and poverty…’ I’m sure you are familiar with this word arrangement. Often, oversleeping is closely associated with laziness, yet in most cases, there are underlying reasons.

A victim of oversleeping, I initially thought pregnancy might be the cause, but then again, it takes two to make one (or two or three…, right?). Plus, I am no mother of Jesus nor am I Jane the Virgin, so I scratched that off the list. Next, I blamed it on being female and experiencing hormonal changes every month, but that didn’t seem substantial enough.

Then, I got a eureka moment; I am not a morning person! This realization made a lot of sense because every single morning, I drag myself out of bed. Even after taking a cold shower, I can easily go back to bed like I never left. You would think years of school would have trained my sleeping habits, but lo! and behold I am, an adult still so attached to their bed. As you read this article, I hope you find your eureka moment too.

Now, if you’re sleeping overboard, to the extent of going for checkups in the hopes of finding the cause, but unfortunately (or fortunately) found no terminal illness to blame, here are some things to consider. First, you might not be getting enough slumber. You sleep too late and get up very early, of course, you’ll be dreaming about your unfinished dreams while dosing in the shower and then in the taxi. Seven to nine hours of sleep for the average adult is the healthiest option.

Second, what do you eat? If your meals are full of deep-fried or baked food, processed meat, and carbohydrates, you should consider balancing it up. Heavy meals tend to induce feelings of fatigue, with some foods even increasing your melatonin levels, a hormone that contributes to drowsiness. The solution here is to eat less fats and carbs, and more fruits, veggies and whole grains. However, if you really really can’t do away with your pizza and chapatti, you can still enjoy them—just in smaller quantities than before.

Physical activity is important! Waking up to scroll through Instagram for two hours before having breakfast, then sit for four hours while working, eating lunch (like a beef wrap, soda, and fries), working drowsily before heading home to have dinner, and finally watching TikTok until you fall asleep—repeating this cycle for months on end—will definitely make you feel more tired. The point is that physical exertion helps keep your mind awake. Get up, go out, take a walk, dance—anything to keep your body active.

Despite all this, we cannot rule out the fact that oversleeping can be medically affiliated (of which it is referred to as hypersomnia). Brain conditions like narcolepsy can be a cause too; with excessive sleep being one of its symptoms. Narcolepsy refers to the brain’s inability to properly regulate the sleep-wake cycle, people with this condition tend to fall asleep regularly and abruptly. I have a friend who experienced these abrupt blackouts; it was as if someone had switched off the main power to her brain without warning. Once her brain shuts off, her body follows suit. In a sense narcolepsy is like epilepsy but instead of having uncontrollable seizures her body just shuts down. There is currently no cure for narcolepsy, but changing sleep patterns and taking medication does help.

Traumatic brain injury and infections that cause brain swelling like meningitis, neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, autism and depression are additional reasons one might frequently feel sleepy. In the case of depression, one is at an ‘all-time low’, meaning they are at the base of a mental pool, breathing in ugly pool water, trying to speak but unheard because the world around sees only the clear surface water.  Depression in most cases is a constant comatose, and in this state, one is more prone to excessive sleep.

Excessive sleep is medically seen as a symptom of an underlying problem, which means that when you notice oversleeping, have yourself checked by a certified doctor and run the necessary tests. Most importantly, do not encourage it with drug or alcohol abuse. Be active and keep away from your bed as much as possible during the day.