Waking Up Tired After 8 Hours Of Sleep? Here Are The Possible Reasons

Henry Warren

Professional writer

Feeling tired is quite normal. And can happen due to staying up too late, long working hours, and other sleep disturbances. But when feeling tired all the time starts to affect your everyday life you need to find out why. Waking up tired after 8 hours of sleep? Here are the possible reasons…

Sleep Phases

Sleep is divided into phases:

• Stage 1 - this is the lightest stage when muscle tone relaxes and brain wave activity starts to slow
• Stage 2 - this is known as defined non-rapid eye movement sleep where the brain continues to slow, body temperature decreases, and heart rate drops
• Stage 3 - this deep non-rapid eye movement sleep is the most restorative phase with wakening and arousals rare
• Stage 4 - REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is commonly known as the dreaming stage – eye movements are from side to side and brain waves are more active with easy arousal making you fell over sleepy

Sleep Quality

The quality of sleep is directly related to how well you’ve slept. How easy it was for you to fall asleep. And if your sleep was interrupted during the night. When it’s hard to wake up in the morning no matter how much sleep you get you can focus on improving the quality of sleep by simply making a few changes:

• Replace your pillows regularly and change your mattress following manufacturers guidelines for a good night’s rest
• Carry out sleep hygiene which includes washing your sheets every couple of weeks to eliminate germs and allergens, and vacuuming regularly
• Keep active but avoid any intense exercise before bedtime as this can affect the quality of sleep – increasing body temperature and hormone fluctuation
• Have a light bedtime snack such as fruit or yoghurt rather than eating a heavy meal before bedtime
• Stick to a routine sleep-wake schedule without changing at the weekends – waking up at the same time has many sleep benefits
• Avoid using devices about an hour before bedtime as this will let your body know bedtime is near
• Dim the lights and set the temperature in your bedroom to around 20 degrees Celsius – recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. And wear breathable nightwear

Foods to Improve Sleep

Eating more healthy foods can help to increase quality sleep. Foods should be natural and unprocessed. Rich in proteins, amino acids, and antioxidants. And high in vitamins. Choose from the following list to help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly:

• Berries, and cherries
• Prunes, raisins, and plums
• Cottage cheese
• Eggs
• Almonds and walnuts
• Popcorn, oatmeal. And whole wheat crackers
• Bedtime tea without caffeine such as chamomile, ginger, and peppermint
• Warm milk that provides soothing relaxation
• Iron supplements to eliminate fatigue and boost haemoglobin levels

Foods to Avoid

Better rest at night will be had by side-stepping:

• Spicy foods that may cause indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux – all made worse by lying down
• Fatty foods and processed carbohydrates that fill you up without the necessary vitamin and nutrients – associated with sleepiness during the daytime
• Foods high in caffeine and sugar – that boost the mind and body then crash the system

Sleep Disorders

There are many reasons why may want to sleep all the time. And these include:

Psychological causes

When you want to sleep all the time reasons can be related to:

• Stress and daily life pressures – where you may feel overwhelmed, wound-up. And lacking in self-esteem. This can cause sleep problems
• Emotional distress – bereavement, for example, can affect people in different ways, resulting in tiredness and exhaustion, yet being unable to sleep
• Depression – that leaves you wanting to sleep all the time
• Anxiety – with uncontrollable feelings of worry and irritability with trouble concentrating, and difficulty sleeping

Physical causes

When you feel that you’re always sleepy no matter how much sleep you get this can be due to:

• Allergies – nasal congestion can cause the upper airway to narrow increasing sleep interruption
• Being overweight or obese – negatively affecting sleep which may lead to insulin resistance and an increased risk of diabetes
• Health conditions – like anaemia and thyroid issues
• Narcolepsy – a neurological disorder where the brain is unable to control sleep and wake cycles
• Obstructive sleep apnoea – where breathing stops periodically during the night disrupting sleep
• Parasomnia – sleepwalking and talking, nightmares, and sleep aggression or paralysis
• Pregnancy – causing daytime exhaustion and insomnia at night
• Restless leg syndrome – characterised by a persistent and overwhelming desire to move the legs
• Viral infections – often these conditions are accompanied by sleep disturbances

Getting Help with Sleep Disorders

Why do I want to sleep all the time? To get your question answered you may need to be referred to a sleep therapist. Specialists are trained in the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of sleep problems.

A clinical assessment and sleep evaluation will be initially carried out. And diagnosis involves taking a complete family history. And performing a physical examination and laboratory tests. A sleep study may need you to stay in a sleep centre overnight.

Different methods of treatment will be used depending on the results – including medications, therapy, and occasionally surgery.

Too Much Sleep

Can too much sleep make you tired? Actually, too much sleep can be as bad as too little sleep. Studies have shown that when adults sleep longer, they experience increasing levels of fatigue, irritability, and lethargy. And oversleeping has also been linked to depression which begins a cycle of low mood swings that inspire oversleeping – and more sleep that causes low moods.

Get Sleep Relief

When you’re still tired after 8 hours of sleep products to help you sleep include:

• Sleep-monitoring sensors with headbands and apps that provide daily sleep reports and coaching programmes
• Sleep masks that offer soothing comfort and provide relief from congested sinuses
• Sleep patches designed to help you unwind with a combination of melatonin, hops, and valerian root
• Pillow sprays with blends of chamomile and lavender to help you fall asleep more quickly
• Glow lighting that gradually dims and turns off to lull you off to sleep – and gently wakes you up in the morning

Henry Warren I am a professional writer and health & wellness enthusiast.