#SleepyAtWork #FirstJob #SleepPatterns
Hey everyone! 👋 So, question for you all: does anyone else ever find themselves feeling super sleepy at work, even after getting what seems like a solid 12 hours of sleep? Because I am currently struggling with this big time. Here’s the rundown:
– 22M here, just about to hit my one month mark at my first job 🎉
– Back in college, I could pull all-nighters like it was nothing, but now it’s a whole different story
– I don’t understand how I can sleep for 12 hours straight, plus day naps, and still feel like a zombie at my desk after lunch on a Monday 🧟♂️
Anyone else in the same boat? Any tips or tricks you’ve found helpful? I’d love to hear them! I’m thinking maybe it’s time to shake up my sleep routine or try some energy-boosting snacks. Let me know your thoughts! 😴💼
Most of your energy is being rerouted to your digestive system + you’re in a relaxed position, probably doing some routine task.
This was me the first few years of my career for sure. Could barely keep my eyes open some days around 1-2 pm. U need a little more on the job stress then it’ll go away lol
Do you get breaks throughout the day? In college, class is 1-2 hours long then you get up go out side and a few hours later have another 1-2 hour class and your day is done. You’re adjusting to 8 hours of continuous, focused brain power instead of a few hours here and there like in school. If you get breaks during the day, take them. Go for a quick walk outside, stretch a bit, watch a YouTube video, or visit a work friend at the breakroom for a coffee/water refill or healthy snack break. Try to stay physically active where you can.
Your tiredness is not really about sleep / lack of sleep. It’s about health as a whole. You want to make sure you have the golden triangle, the most important things, covered:
– Sleep properly. Don’t sleep more than 10-11h. Sleeping too little isn’t good, but neither is sleeping too much. Make sure the sleep conditions are also appropriate, ex. don’t eat right before sleeping because then your body will have to digest that food and isn’t resting, not too much light, limit screen use, have enough oxygen (ex. an open window), and so on.
– Eat healthy. Eat 20-30 portions of different plant foods per week, drink plenty, try fasting or let your body rest from eating for some time, limit processed foods, etc. You probably already know what you should do, you just have to actually do it.
– Do exercise. You don’t need a gym, but at least be walking 8k+ steps, limit sitting, do some stretching / yoga / flexibility exercises to stay in decent mobile shape and avoid pains, also make sure you have good eye health (that often makes us feel tired otherwise), etc.
Also, practice mindfulness and concentration exercises. This will help you snap out of sleepiness when you need to.
It’s normal if you have a new / your first job to sleep a lot more than usual. I know many people who were so sleepy for months during their first job (myself included). So don’t be concerned, but also don’t use “it’s normal” as an excuse to let your health slide!
This is for many reasons:
Sleeping with some light on
Bad bed
Taking some medicine
Work ilumination
Mental stress not being aware of
Heart issues
It’s not a bad idea to consult with a doctor. Maybe you’re tired because the job is boring, maybe it’s related to your health.
Last summer I was feeling tired at work mid-day. Initially I thought it’s because “maybe subconsciously I find the job boring” but it was just an iron deficiency because of my anemia. I started taking supplements, adjusted my diet and that helped.
You slept too long. That’s why you feel like shit. It’s very common in people. Anything past 8 has detrimental effects for me. 12 hours I’m a bag of shit all day. It’s referred to over sleeping. Maybe as a teen you’d be alright, but not at 22.
6.5-7.5 is my sweet spot. I rarely sleep 8 hours. You don’t need 8 hours unless you are a teenager (8-10 is recommended for teens)
Maybe you have sleep apnea
you’re just getting old, welcome to the work world
You gotta sleep way less. If I get over 7 hours my day is ruined. Idk why, but 6 isn’t enough and 8 makes me sluggish and slow in the morning. You just gotta find your sweet spot.
When you over sleep it makes you real tired. When i used to work 12 hour shifts , even when i was off i tried not to sleep in too much cause breaking b the schedule is the worst
Make sure to eat well
consider sleep apnea
Too much sleep first of all, though I get it.
When you have been sleep deprived for a long time, and finally get a lot of sleep, your body attempts to do a lot of rebuilding and recovery activities that it is supposed to do on a nightly basis, because who knows when it will have a chance to do them again!
And so, you get up feeling (apparently) as though you had never slept, when in fact a whole lot of helpful activities have taken place.
You need to get a consistent amount of sleep (6-8 hours, depending on the individual), at consistent times, to have the best overall effect.
You may actually be getting too much sleep. Limit sleep to 8 hours and get some aerobic exercise everyday. Jump rope, jumping jacks, go for a walk ti a nearby park., etc. Also avoid caffeine, it’s very very easy to get in the habit of drinking a Coke or Pepsi to get through the afternoon. But, over time it really messes with your metabolic system, sleep, etc. Caffeine is a powerful drug.
You’ve received many good answers, but I also want to point out that a new job is a lot of new information to take in for your brain. New people, routines, the work itself, new habits…if you’re anything like me, this will make you tired. Especially if you’re not getting up to stretch your legs regularly.
If this is part of the reason, it will level out as you get more comfortable in the role. I’ve had something similar with every new job I’ve started, and it always got better.
Welcome to adulthood…! No seriously, work on your sleep hygiene and don’t get too much sleep. Also, what are you eating for lunch? Make sure not to eat carb heavy or lots of sugar. Make sure to get lots of protein and some good carbs like whole grain or fruit, veggies. Don’t eat greasy fast food. Don’t drink too much caffeine and make sure to drink lots of water!
!2 hours seems like a lot, should be typically 6-8 hours. Also it depends on your diet, don’t eat/drink too much sugar, as you may crash and burn. Eat healthier, fruits/vegetables, etc less fast food, I’ve seen a lot of younger folks eating that. Some exercise, you don’t have to be a body builder, maybe a ran/walk, treadmill, some weights, pushups, cardio, etc a few times week for like 15 min each time.
I find having a consistent amount of sleep each night helps rather than super long sleeps on and off.
Also, eating the right food helps too!