Why does napping make me more tired

Energy fix: If you miss several hours of sleep one night, consider calling in sick the next day or ask if you can work from home. That way, you won't have to drive. If you find yourself nodding off at your desk, take a brisk walk up and down the stairs or hall.

Exercise helps you snap to, in part because the accompanying rise in body temperature appears to boost alertness for a time. If possible, set aside part of your lunch hour for a nap. Remember to set an alarm, or ask a buddy to wake you.

Fact: Actually, sleeping pills are most helpful if you take them before insomnia becomes chronic, as they can help correct your off-kilter sleep homeostat.

Today's popular pills like Ambien and Sonata, unlike older versions, help you drift off to sleep within minutes and stay asleep, thus breaking the cycle of sleeplessness and anxiety that can turn a few nights of insomnia into chronic sleeplessness. They also wear off faster than older meds, so you're not semi-comatose in the morning.

Like all medicines, sleeping pills can cause side effects dizziness, headache, agitation , and they're not meant for long-term use. Energy fix: Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of sleeping meds for you. If you'd prefer a drug-free alternative, consider cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT ; long-term, it can be more effective than pills at combating insomnia. CBT trains insomniacs to avoid bad habits and counterproductive worries about lost sleep.

Usually the therapy runs from four to eight sessions, but some patients find relief with as few as two. The downside of CBT: It can cost hundreds per session and, unlike pills, may not be covered by insurance. Fact: Night owls are nearly 3 times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than early birds, one study found — even when they got the same total amount of sleep.

Experts aren't sure exactly why, but there may be an optimal time within the hour clock to fall asleep and wake up. Mom's have such little time to spare that it will be incredibly frustrating to carve out the time for a nap and then wake up miserable afterwards. Each nap has to count and has to offer maximum rest and relief. In order to get the most from your nap and wake up feeling energized instead of defeated by exhaustion, critics all seem to agree that there's a certain time of day that you should be engaging in this napping experience.

Yes, the time of day really does matter. This is important to note - if your nap impedes your nighttime rest period, then mean mama may surface the next day, and sleep deprivation patterns may ensue. This is typically when moms are reaching for that second or third! Perhaps a 20 minute nap would be better suited and would provide better results.

Via: Pexels: AndreaPiacquadio. Share Share Tweet Email. Related Topics Health. Allie Lembo. One of the reasons you might feel tired after a nap is if you slept for too long. Some experts believe that taking a minute to minute nap is ideal if you want to feel more awake and avoid impacting your regular sleep schedule.

Some experts also suggest that napping in your own bed and napping earlier in the day can help you achieve a better rest. Over 3 Million people read Morning Brew, you should too. Loading Something is loading. Email address. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.