When you sleep too much, you're throwing off that biological clock, and it starts telling the cells a different story than what they're actually experiencing, inducing a sense of fatigue. You might be crawling out of bed at 11am, but your cells started using their energy cycle at seven.
Surprisingly, people can also develop constipation and other gastrointestinal problems when muscles lose their conditioning and tone. Moreover, the inactivity associated with staying in bed for long hours increases the risk of damaging the veins (especially those of the pelvis and legs) and developing blood clots.
So, after a month in bed, your heart pumps 30% less blood per beat. And with less oxygen circulating through your body, you feel more tired.
Staying in bed all day by choice — what's known as bed rotting — may allow you to recharge, but too much time in bed can disrupt your mood and increase stress, experts say. Sign up for CNN's Sleep, But Better newsletter series.
Too much time in bed weakens muscles, including those needed to support the back. Some people develop gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation. Inactivity also boosts the chances of developing a blood clot in the veins of your pelvis and legs. This can hurt, and damage the affected vein.
Causes of Spending Too Much Time in Bed
Spending excessive time in bed may be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as depression. Depression is a mood disorder that has many symptoms, including decreased interest in activities or other people, weight changes, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.
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 underlying problem, Polotsky says.
“While consistently getting less than the recommended amount of sleep has been associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, sleeping more than nine hours per night regularly may also be detrimental,” Makekau says. She says oversleeping can lead to: Increased fatigue and low energy. Decrease in immune function.
The inability to get out of bed is a common symptom of someone suffering from a mental health disorder or substance use disorder. Often people who struggle with depression, anxiety, or any type of substance abuse may find it challenging to face the day each morning by getting out of bed.
If you're tired all day and then wide awake at night, it may be poor sleep hygiene, being out of sync with your body clock, stress, anxiety, naps, screens, hormones, a sleep disorder, or a medical condition.
One day inside probably won't hugely affect your health—but it's not great to constantly stay cooped up from morning until dark. The biggest issue is that entering hibernation mode means you don't get any exposure to natural light.
If you or a loved one feel sleepy or fatigued, despite having 7-8 hours of sleep, it could indicate poor sleep quality or be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. If you have questions or concerns about your sleep health, please speak with your primary care provider.
In fact, there can be many underlying reasons why you feel so fatigued, including nutrient deficiency, high stress and anxiety levels, hormonal imbalance, and other medical conditions. By implementing these three takeaways, you are a step closer to getting the sleep you need to feel refreshed the next day.
Take the time you plan to wake up (say, 6 a.m.) and subtract the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep (which is around 9 to 11 p.m. the night before). This is your bedtime ballpark.
Lying down isn't completely useless—it does help your muscles and other organs relax. But you'd get the same results just from reclining on the couch. So sleep is still your best friend.
Not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease—even for people who have no other risk factors. It can also increase the likelihood of developing other heart disease risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
Complications of prolonged bed rest include decreased muscle strength and blood flow, pressure sores and constipation. Prolonged bed rest may result in patients losing their ability and their ability to dress, shower or use the toilet on their own, leaving them more disabled than when they were first warded.
On the flip side, staying indoors can leave you feeling drained and tired. Although it may be difficult to remember to step outside during a busy day, taking a few minutes to go for a walk, or simply get some fresh air can do some serious good for your health.
Answer. A person who enjoys spending time at home is called a homebody. A homebody can still have a good time going out with friends, and enjoy other aspects of a normal social life, but prefers to be home.
You Don't Have To Worry About Anyone Else
You also have to make sure everyone is included in the conversation. After a while, this can get tiresome, and some evenings you just don't feel like having to worry about other people. Stay home and feel carefree instead!