Sleep is a vital part of our existence. Without it, we would cease to function. Even short-term sleep deprivation can result in some pretty nasty effects, like impaired thinking and a weakened immunity. While we all enjoy a restful night’s sleep, some people take it to an obsessive level.
These sleepaholics love snoozing more than anything and will go to great lengths for a nap or a nice Sunday morning sleep-in. Just make sure you never come between a “snooze-ophile” and their beloved shut-eye.
Why Do They Love Sleep?
Sleep feels great. It’s the body’s way of recharging and healing. For some people, it’s also a great escape. Dreaming is fun, and sleep is a way to get away from problems in the real world. Sleep enthusiasts know that a good snooze is a great cure for things like stress, anxiety, and a bad mood. There are definitely worse ways to deal with a rough day.
12 Ways to Spot a Sleepaholic
So how do you know if you or one of your friends has a bona fide sleep obsession? Here are some things to look out for:
- You hate the thought of getting out of bed
- You can fall asleepon planes, in movie theaters…just about anywhere
- You think morning people are totally nuts
- You wish your country would adopt the siesta tradition
- You plan your day around naps
- You have that 90s infomercial classic, The Clapper, so you don’t have to get of bed
- You calculate how much sleep you can get if you go to bed at a given time
- Koalas, which average 20 hours of sleep per day, are your spirit animal
- You live for the days when you don’t have to set an alarm
- Sleep gear, like a massive full-body pillow, tops your wish list
- You’d rather snooze than meet your friends for breakfast or brunch
- Your bed is the greatest place on earth
Sleep Lovers in Pop Culture
Some artists and celebrities truly get the need for snoozefests. There are several famous works of art depicting sleepers, including Henri Matisses’sPortrait of Marguerite Sleeping,Henri Rousseau’sThe Sleeping Gypsy,and Vincent Van Gogh’sNoon: Rest from Work.
Occasionally, famous sleep enthusiasts make headlines, like whenJames Francotook an unplanned nap while flying a plane at 3 am. Some people have even leveraged their love affair with slumberland into a career, such as Drew Ackermann, the host of a popular podcast called“Sleep with Me”that aims to lull listeners to sleep.
If you or someone you know is a sleepaholic, enjoy that hobby to the fullest – and without guilt. There are certainly a lot more unhealthy things you could be doing!
However, there is such a thing astoo much sleep. WebMD reports that people who regularly sleep more than nine hours per night may be at increased risk for problems like diabetes and heart disease. In addition, hypersomnia, or sleeping more than is healthy, could be a sign of a medical condition. If you sleep a lot not because you love it, but because you constantly feel lethargic, talk to your doctor.
But if you sleep a lot because you love it — enjoy!
FAQs
Takeaway. Even though a sleep addiction isn't a recognized medical condition, there are a number of reasons why you may be struggling with oversleeping. Hypersomnia is a medical condition that leads to excessive tiredness, and some mental health conditions can also lead to sleepiness.
Why do you love sleeping? ›
It's the body's way of recharging and healing. For some people, it's also a great escape. Dreaming is fun, and sleep is a way to get away from problems in the real world. Sleep enthusiasts know that a good snooze is a great cure for things like stress, anxiety, and a bad mood.
Is it true that the more happy you are the less sleep you need? ›
Obviously if you are happier, your body will be healthier but you need quality sleep every day to repair, rebuild your physical body but also your important hormones in your body such as your thyroid, cortisol, leptin, ghrelin, and all of other important hormones.
Do you feel like you get enough sleep? ›
Common signs that you haven't gotten enough sleep include: Feeling drowsy or falling asleep during the day, especially during calm activities like sitting in a movie theater or driving. Falling asleep within 5 minutes of lying down. Short periods of sleep during waking hours (microsleeps)
What is it called when you are obsessed with sleep? ›
Doctors have coined a term for people obsessed with sleeping well, and it's called orthosomnia. The condition has been on the rise since the introduction of sleep trackers, according to Dr. Joseph Ojile, founder of Clayton Sleep Institute and chairman of the National Sleep Foundation.
Why do I like to sleep so much? ›
About excessive sleepiness
This may be due to shiftwork, family demands (such as a new baby), study or social life. Other causes include sleep disorders, medication, and medical and psychiatric illnesses. Hypersomnia can be helped or cured with a few adjustments to lifestyle habits.
What do you call a person who loves to sleep? ›
sleepaholic (plural sleepaholics) (informal) A person who loves sleeping or has a tendency to oversleep.
Why do I love sleeping with someone? ›
Sleeping next to a partner also increases the production of oxytocin and estrogen in women and oxytocin in men. These two hormones promote relaxation, support an ideal body temperature, and help people get deeper, more restful sleep. Oxytocin is sometimes called the "Love Hormone".
Why does sleeping make you happy? ›
While you sleep, your body works to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. And for children and young people, sleep is how their bodies and minds grow and develop. When you do not get enough sleep, you feel tired, you find it hard to concentrate and remember things and you may be grumpy.
Is sleeping at 9pm good? ›
When you have an early work day, getting to bed by 9 or 10 p.m. can ensure you reach the ideal eight hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep each night profoundly affects physical and emotional health. It can help people age well, feel more energized, and prevent chronic conditions.
According to The Sleep Foundation, it's been proven to be one of the ways our body restores energy. It does this by restoring two particular chemicals in our bodies while we sleep: glycogen and adenosine. Glycogen helps store energy in the brain, and these decrease while we are awake. They are restored while we sleep.
Is it bad to go to bed at 7pm? ›
To align our sleep schedules with our body's natural cycles (our circadian rhythms), adults should go to bed when it's dark out, after 8 p.m. We also get deeper, more restorative sleep when our sleep time begins before midnight.
How many hours of sleep is healthy? ›
Experts recommend that adults sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night. Adults who sleep less than 7 hours a night may have more health issues than those who sleep 7 or more hours a night.
How much sleep does a woman need? ›
How Much Sleep Should a Woman Get? On average, women need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to feel rested and refreshed in the morning. However, the requirement varies some what by their physical condition and stage of life.
At what age do you start feeling tired and old? ›
Well, this depends on a person's age, health, fitness level and lifestyle. Generally, the more years that pass, the more you'll value your beauty sleep, and its true senior fatigue is a real thing. However, most people start experiencing a decline in their energy levels by the time they reach their mid-thirties.
Is it possible to become addicted to sleeping? ›
Remember: Sleep is a necessary biological function you need to survive and be healthy. And while a rejuvenating night's rest feels great, you can't become addicted to it. However, if you feel like you're “addicted” to sleep, or struggling to get enough rest, it could be a sign of another serious problem.
What does it mean when you crave sleep? ›
Sleep addiction is not defined as a medical condition and one can pay attention to signs and symptoms that may help one diagnose a sleep disorder such as hypersomnia. These symptoms include irritability, memory difficulty, brain fog, tiredness, a need for naps time and again, difficulty waking up post a long nap, etc.
Is sleep OCD a thing? ›
Then there's the fact that certain subtypes of OCD could involve a fear of not getting enough sleep, never waking up, having terrifying dreams, being harmed while they're sleeping, never being able to fall asleep, or other worries that impact bedtime habits and sleep hygiene directly.
What is a sleepaholic? ›
sleepaholic (plural sleepaholics) (informal) A person who loves sleeping or has a tendency to oversleep.
Sleep is a vital part of our existence. Without it, we would cease to function. Even short-term sleep deprivation can result in some pretty nasty effects, like impaired thinking and a weakened immunity. While we all enjoy a restful night’s sleep, some people take it to an obsessive level.
So how do you know if you or one of your friends has a bona fide sleep obsession? Here are some things to look out for:
