6 Signs You're Actually Getting Way Too Much Sleep
For many, it’s a constant struggle to get enough sleep in a day, whether because work demands it of you or because you demand it of yourself.
Over the last decade, it’s now become well-known that sleep plays an important part in our overall health, so you need to make sure you’re getting enough of it. How much? Doctors suggest seven to nine hours of sleep a day depending on the person.
However, apparently, getting too much sleep is just as bad as not getting enough.
For all those who love binge-sleeping over the weekend to make up for the weekday, going to bed at 10 and then waking up at noon, we apologize– this is going to be nothing but bad news.
Even were sleep is concerned, too much is a bad thing.– Homer
Are you getting too much sleep? It’s time to find out...
1. Brain fog
According to WebMD, “too much sleep can make your brain feel foggy.”
If you wake up feeling like a zombie who can’t put together a coherent sentence for an extended period of time, watch out. Clearly, a little of this is normal, but if you notice this extend into your day, that’s one sign that you might just be getting too much sleep.
2. Headaches
Headaches are another sign of too much sleep, according to Elizabeth McDevitt of the Sleep and Cognition Lab at UC Riverside. They could very well be caused from sleeping in too long:
The mechanism behind this isn't understood that well, and one hypothesis is that fluctuations in neurotransmitters during sleep may be a trigger for headaches,Another possibility is that when people sleep later in the morning, they may be sleeping past their normal breakfast or coffee time, and the headaches may be related to caffeine withdrawals, low blood sugar, or dehydration.
3. Body pain
Another common sign of too much sleep– and a sign I’ve experienced before after what I thought would be a nice morning of make-up sleep– is body pain.
If you’ve ever woken up feeling pain all over your body, pain you don’t typically feel after waking up from an average night’s rest, that’s a good sign you may have gotten too much sleep.
4. Fatigue
Have you ever slept in, expecting to feel nice and rested the next day– yes, fiiiiiiinally– only to feel more tired than when you laid down to rest the previous night?
What the heck, right? Well, it turns out there’s something to this.
Similarly to the headaches caused by oversleeping, just because we wake up later in the day doesn’t mean our body decides to wait for us. If you sleep in to, say, noon, there’s a good chance your body’s cells start their energy cycle at your normal wake time several hours earlier.
Because of this, you wake up feeling far more tired than you expected, your body having been expending energy for hours.
5. Memory loss
According to a Harvard Health study, getting too much sleep can also negatively affect your memory.
Researcher Elizabeth Devore and her team followed a group of women first in 1986 and then later in 2000. Throughout their research, they consistently found that those study participants who had excess sleep performed worse on several brain tests than those who received sufficient sleep and also showed signs of memory loss.
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6. Weight gain
While a difficult factor to prove, weight gain is nonetheless a potential cause of oversleeping.
We still don’t exactly know why that’s the case, but several studies have proven that a link between the two does exist.
For example, one University of Glasgow study found that "in people with high genetic risk for obesity, both short sleep durations (less than 7 hours per night) and long sleep durations (more than 9 hours per night) further increased risk of carrying excess weight, compared with those who slept for normal durations (between 7 and 9 hours every night)."
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.