For many people, the best part of their work week is the sheer sense of possibility on Friday, almost the eve of the weekend. You have a weekend full of work activities, catching up with friends and family, and doing all your hobbies. And of course, you dream of getting a little more sleep, too.
How to Sleep on Weekends?
For many people, the best part of their work week is the sheer sense of possibility on Friday, almost the eve of the weekend. You have a weekend full of work activities, catching up with friends and family, and doing all your hobbies. But depending on how tired you are, the most valuable part of the upcoming weekend may be getting to sleep. After all, you worked hard all week, meeting all the deadlines; Why not gift yourself a few? Hours of extra sleep on the weekend? Not that much.
The issue of sleeping in on the weekends isn't so black and white in terms of what's "good" for you and your body. Below, we'll cover the healthiest way to sleep and, more importantly, how to solve chronic sleep debt that may be the root cause of your weekend insomnia.
How Much Sleep Should You Sleep on Weekends?
In most cases, it's best to avoid changing your wake-up time by more than an hour on weekends. If you can stick to your regular schedule and get out of bed at your typical waking time, that's even better. A better way to deal with feeling groggy is to prioritize sleep throughout your work week and supplement your sleep with short naps between 2pm and 3pm; This is the time period when most people naturally feel a drop in their energy levels.
So why not sleep an extra three hours and call it a day? There's evidence that catching up on sleep on the weekend doesn't actually make up for your chronic sleep debt. It may help you feel less stressed and groggy in the short term, but ultimately the effects of sleep loss are cumulative and build up over time. One day of extra sleep does not eliminate weeks, months, or years of poor sleep.
It's a good idea to think of sleep as a long-term investment; After all, this is essentially what it means for your health. The length and quality of your sleep affects the overall health of your body and the well-being of your mind. Occasional small dips in your "stocks" won't impact your body much, but a major downturn in the market in the form of chronic sleep debt will have serious consequences on your health and happiness.
Why Do We Sleep So Much on Weekends?
After a week of work that forces you to wake up early and obligations that keep you up late at night, it's natural to have a strong urge to sleep on the weekends. However, do not think of your fatigue as an excuse for a marathon sleep that disrupts your sleep pattern. Instead, use the fatigue you feel as motivation to start changing your habits so you can feel better during the week and reduce your urge to sleep on the weekends.
Is Sleeping Too Much Bad?
If you really go all out and sleep almost all day long, the short-term effect won't necessarily be bad; However, your circadian rhythm can become extremely skewed and disrupted. As a result, it will take longer to get back into a normal sleep pattern.
But it turns out that sleeping too much as well as too little on a regular basis is also bad for your health. Researchers have found through various studies that long sleepers are at risk of psychiatric illnesses and have a higher BMI.
There's also evidence that people who sleep excessively have higher levels of inflammatory factors associated with everything from heart disease to diabetes. Although other variables are involved in these health problems, sleeping too much can exacerbate risk factors and increase your chances of more serious problems.
All problems related to excessive sleeping include:
· Cognitive impairment
· Depression
· More pain
· fertility problems
· Higher risk of obesity
· higher risk of stroke
· higher risk of diabetes
· Higher risk of heart disease
· Higher risk of death (from all causes)
Only 2% of the population is naturally programmed to sleep more than 9 hours. So, if you're sleeping more than 9 hours a night and still not feeling rested in the morning, there may be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. In such a case, consult a physician.
How Can I Avoid Sleeping So Much on Weekends?
To stop your bad habit of sleeping in on weekends, consider making drastic changes to the way you sleep during the week.
Create a Comfortable Bedroom
Bedroom products prepared only with natural ingredients can provide you with the comfort and sleep hygiene you want.
At WoW Futon, natural futon mattresses and organic mattress toppers are produced from completely natural and certified ingredients such as merino wool, alpaca wool, cotton, linen, natural latex and bamboo.
Gently Reset Sleep Schedule
If you need to reset your sleep schedule during the week, try varying your bedtime and wakeup time in 15-minute increments.
Apply Consistency
Once you determine your bedtime and wake-up time, stick to that consistent schedule as much as possible. Your body thrives on routine and responds well to consistency. Want to wake up the next morning like the overly happy person in the cereal commercials? It shows that it is time to get more serious and take clear measures about your sleep and bedtime.
Add a Nap or Two During the Week
If you're constantly tired throughout the week, it might be a good idea to add a nap or two. Ideally, you'll nap in the afternoon, when your energy is naturally at its lowest. If you nap too early or too late, this can also disrupt your sleep schedule.
Make Your Housework Easier
Make choices that support a regular sleep schedule throughout the week. Can you order your groceries online? Could you procrastinate a little less and stop scrolling through Instagram for hours to meditate and get ready for bed? Consider how your choices will affect your sleep and overall health.
Limit How Much Work You Take Home
Do you take your laptop with you to get more work done around your home at night? Creating a stronger boundary between your work and home life may help. Stress and staring at a screen late into the evening can really affect your ability to sleep and the quality of your sleep.
Conclusion: Sleep Consistently on Weekends…
Your weekdays are very tiring, this is understandable. Work, family, exercise, your social life, and other variables in your schedule can cause you to get little or no sleep. But it's incredibly important to follow a specific schedule so that your body can better predict your resting and waking patterns. With a consistent sleep schedule and adequate amounts of sleep, you will begin to feel happier and healthier.
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