Is sleeping a lot bad? page

[C2H5OH]

During winter months, sometimes I just want to sleep through whole Saturday with a few hours to eat or check IM between. Is anything bad with that desire? Is it unhealthy? I think that since 16 hours per day are dark periods it is not a bad idea to sleep so much time if the body (or mind) just wants that. I am confused, is there any science behind it?

[sarahelyse]

I feel like this a lot in the winter. I've been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder, which explains my personal desire to sleep a lot. However, if I go out for a walk, even a short one, I suddenly feel sooo much better!

Try walking outside for a little bit, even if you have to bundle up in layers.

[bamabelle]

Vitamin D levels are lower in the winter, which can lead to being extra tired. Some people take vitamin D supplements, use SAD lamps (seasonal affective disorder lamps) or go to a tanning bed.
Amanda

[JoanieL]

Back when I still worked full time, I got in the habit of sleeping in and laying around on Sundays. I still do it. It's such a treat to shut the world out, doze off watching bad tv, eat in bed, etc.

Also, if your avatar is you, you look young. I remember a friend of mine telling me that when her sons reached their mid teens, they slept a lot even through their early 20s. (They also ate a lot.) She figured they were changing so much physically and emotionally that maybe they needed all that sleep.

[Louisa655]

My sleep month is March --- I can sleep and sleep through March and have for years. I just accept the fact that I sleep a lot through this month. I feel like the butterfly emerging in April and am normal the rest of the year.

Listen to your body -- it's tell you what it needs/wants. So long as it's not interfering with your work/normal life, just go with it.

[meggan]

I think it depends on why you want to sleep.

For me, when I'm feeling very stressed and depressed I cope by sleeping. I find it more enjoyable to sleep than to deal with the world. And I usually get depressed more often in winter. So for me, sleeping a lot is bad. It's similar to people who drink to deal with their problems or overeat.

[texas.grok]

I think it depends on how much you are sleeping and when. I think our natural body clock, maybe more so when we go primal, seems to call for longer sleeping hours in the winter when we have longer nights and shorter nights during the summer months. Or at least that is the way I am.

During the winter, I'm ready for bed shortly after sundown and dinner but during the summer, I don't go to bed until much later.

[Gadsie]

During winter months, sometimes I just want to sleep through whole Saturday with a few hours to eat or check IM between. Is anything bad with that desire? Is it unhealthy? I think that since 16 hours per day are dark periods it is not a bad idea to sleep so much time if the body (or mind) just wants that. I am confused, is there any science behind it?

I'm jealous, I wouldn't worry

[wiliswene]

I got in the habit of sleeping in and laying around on Sundays.