6 Signs That You Need More Sleep

Trying to keep up with work, school, and home life can be difficult. You might find yourself not getting enough sleep or having very poor sleep quality. If you are worried you are not getting enough sleep, check out these common signs that your body needs more time resting.

You Have to Have Caffeine

If you can’t stay awake without coffee either in the morning or extra cups throughout the day, you need to get more rest. It’s fine to want coffee for the taste, but coffee or other forms of caffeine should not be needed just to keep yourself awake at the desk or during class. 

It’s important to make sure you can focus and stay alert without needing to constantly find a caffeine source.

You Are Constantly Getting Sick

Your immune system needs sleep to function. If you have poor sleep or are not getting enough sleep during the day, you might find yourself constantly trying to fight off an infection. You might also notice some skin conditions like acne or eczema that you did not have before. 

If you are catching colds more often than usual, try to get more sleep. You want to make sure your immune system is working properly, especially during the winter months when the cold weather makes it more difficult for people to fight off infections.

You’re Forgetting Things

Not getting enough sleep can cause you to forget things easily. This is more common because your short-term memory is not able to retain information when you are sleep-deprived. If you find yourself forgetting work assignments or forgetting that you have meetings and appointments, you will need to make sure you get more sleep.

You’re Cranky

You might not think so, but not sleeping enough can cause you to have mood swings and to be more irritable than normal. People who do not get enough sleep are also more likely to feel anxious and depressed. 

You might also find yourself feeling more annoyed at coworkers or not being able to deal with frustration. Since this can affect your job and your home life, you need to make sure you are getting enough rest so that you are not hindering your career and relationships.

You Fall Asleep Driving

Falling asleep while driving can be dangerous for both you and everyone else on the road. Falling asleep in the car means you definitely need to make sure you prioritize sleep and need to get to bed earlier. 

Since falling asleep at the wheel can injure you and others, you might want to consider having someone else drive you to work or hiring a car service until you feel like you are getting enough sleep to drive properly again.

You Are Not Able to Nap

You might think if you are not getting enough sleep, you will easily be able to nap. Extremely sleep-deprived people though might not even be able to sleep at all which can make your health worse. 

You might also find yourself napping excessively. You can sleep, but the quality of your sleep is more. Napping too often or for too long can actually make you feel worse. The best nap length is probably shorter than you think, so make sure to limit naps. Depending on your job, you might also need more or fewer naps than other people.

Final Thoughts

Not getting enough sleep can be a serious health concern, especially if it starts affecting your driving or work life. It might also affect your relationships with your spouse, kids, or friends. 

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