Waking up tired after a long nap? Oversleeping could be a reason

While sleep-related issues like insomnia and poor sleep quality have been common among Indians, experts believe that sleeping more than required may not benefit you either. If you spend your weekends in hibernation to compensate for the lack of sleep during the week or wake up tired after a ten-hour snooze, it might be time to tweak your sleep pattern. Here’s why.

What is oversleeping?Oversleeping is when you sleep for more than the prescribed time of seven to eight hours. Experts say that anything beyond ten hours should be given a second thought.

“Irregular sleep schedules are independent predictors of adverse health outcomes. Decreased circadian synchronisation across organ and cellular levels, disorganised patterns of cellular stress and weekday-to-weekend fluctuations in sleeping time may induce repeated circadian disruption which causes metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction” — Dr Hrudananda Mallick, president, Indian Society for Sleep Research and Asian Sleep Research Society

What causes it?
Poor sleep cycle
Medication
Thyroid
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue syndrome
(According to health experts)

Oversleeping and its effect on cognitive function and productivity
Health experts also state that oversleeping causes tiredness and makes a person more irritable, and less cooperative, and also impairs their alertness and reaction time. To this, Dr Siddhant Bhargava, a fitness and nutritional scientist, says, “Spending too much time in bed tends to make people feel that they need more rest thereby keeping them in an oversleeping cycle. This has very important implications for those who seek optimal brain work and productivity.”

Tips to ensure quality sleep
Create a soothing environment
Avoid gadgets and caffeine before sleeping
Set a fixed sleep schedule
Avoid large meals before bedtime
Regular exercise
(According to Dr Manoj Kutteri (Medical Director and CEO, Atmantan Wellness Centre)Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026!