You know you're sleeping too much (hypersomnia) if you regularly need over 9 hours of sleep, still feel groggy and unrefreshed, struggle to wake up (even with alarms), experience daytime sleepiness, have trouble concentrating, or get headaches, even after getting ample rest, indicating your sleep isn't restorative. It's about how you feel, not just the hours, with symptoms like brain fog, memory issues, and sleep drunkenness (confusion upon waking) being key signs.
Depending on the cause, the symptoms of hypersomnia may include:
While everyone occasionally sleeps in, chronic oversleeping — needing 10, 11 or more hours regularly — can be linked to underlying health issues. “Conditions like thyroid disorders, anemia or sleep apnea can all lead to excessive fatigue and longer sleep durations,” says Dr.
Sleep needs can vary from person to person, but in general, experts recommend that healthy adults get an average of 7 to 9 hours per night of shuteye. If you regularly need more than 8 or 9 hours of sleep per night to feel rested, it might be a sign of an sleep or medical problem, Gamaldo says.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.
The 80/20 Rule means that you stick to your healthy, consistent sleep schedule 80% of the time. You then can make exceptions to your schedule 20% of the time. The 80/20 Rule allows you to “live life” and enjoy those special moments with your family.
Musk goes to bed around 3 a.m. and gets about 6 hours of sleep every night. Although he's not getting eight hours a night, Musk has upped his sleeping schedule from being nearly nonexistent in the past. In May 2023, Musk told CNBC that he's no longer pulling all-nighters.
The koala is famous for sleeping around 20-22 hours a day, which is about 90% of the day, due to their low-energy diet of eucalyptus leaves that requires extensive digestion. Other extremely sleepy animals include the sloth (up to 20 hours) and the brown bat (around 20 hours), with some snakes like the ball python also sleeping up to 23 hours daily.
Einstein slept nearly 10 hours a day. He was known to be a firm believer in the importance of a good night's sleep, often aiming for around 10 hours of rest. However, his approach to sleep was somewhat unconventional.
It recharges us with new energy
Your tired eyes need to close for a few hours while your brain “cleans itself up” and your body produces many new cells!
How much sleep should you be getting? Eight hours may be the gold standard, but the ideal amount varies by person. Most adults need between seven and nine hours each night to feel rested and function well. “Your body does best when you're consistent with your schedule,” says Dr.
For many, a brief midday rest is a healthy habit that complements a busy lifestyle. But frequent or prolonged daytime sleepiness may point to something more concerning. Excessive napping can be associated with underlying medical conditions such as sleep apnea, depression or cardiovascular issues.
Try to:
While getting extra rest occasionally isn't usually a cause for concern, consistently oversleeping can be linked to underlying health issues, such as depression, sleep disorders, or chronic illness. It may also contribute to daytime grogginess, headaches, and increased risk for certain health problems.
The main symptom of idiopathic hypersomnia is being very sleepy during the day. Symptoms begin slowly over several weeks or months and may include: Having a strong need to sleep. Not being able to stay awake and alert during the day.
Heavy sleep can be caused by overall sleep practices, genetics, medications, or a medical condition such as sleep apnea. You can improve sleep by changing your bedtime habits and environment, and making healthy lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine and getting more exercise.
The 30th president of the United States would often sleep up to 11 hours a day, including his two-to-four-hour afternoon naps.
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers).
Because they are high achievers, they're often able to take on more than most. Even so, they eventually find their breaking point, and must start looking for a new solution to the problem of their limited time. Rather than scaling back commitments, high achievers double down and work even harder by sacrificing sleep.
Yes, the Navy SEAL sleep trick (an 8-minute power nap with elevated legs) is a real technique for quick rest, popularized by former SEAL Jocko Willink, that helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue, though its effectiveness depends on individual relaxation skills and it's not a substitute for full nighttime sleep. The method involves lying down, elevating your feet above your heart (on a chair or couch), relaxing facial muscles, dropping shoulders, and clearing your mind for about 8-10 minutes to promote relaxation and blood flow, preventing grogginess.
Thomas Edison, inventor and father of the light bulb is said to have slept as little as four hours a night, compensating with frequent catnaps throughout the day.
Elon Musk has publicly stated he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, which he disclosed during his 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live. He described his traits as including taking things literally, struggling with social cues, and finding reward in intense focus, suggesting it aids his work. His comments sparked conversations about autism and how individuals, particularly high-profile ones, experience it.