How to Prevent Daytime Sleepiness

You have so much work to be done, but well, you feel like taking a nap.
At the back of your head lurks that feeling that the nap will not remain just a “nap” once you doze off! Blame it on your poor sleeping habits, you have fallen prey to daytime sleepiness. Well, daytime sleepiness is fine, till the time it isn’t against your wishes. But once it gets in the way of your daily chores, it can be quite a menace.

The main reason for this sleep disorder is a set of poor sleeping habits . Lack of proper sleep during the night can make you feel all groggy and crabby in the morning which is primarily because your brain and your body have been deprived of the kind of rest they require. Hence, having a good night’s sleep is a critical component to avoid daytime sleepiness. Following are a few ways you can ensure good sleep in the night:

Get Adequate Sleep at Night

Regardless of how obvious it might sound, many people have a tendency to cut down their sleep in the morning or at night to do other things. Most adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep, while teenagers need complete nine hours. So, block those hours for sleep every night.

Keep Distractions Away

Experts unequivocally state that your bed is a place to sleep or have sex. You shouldn’t read, watch TV, play video games or use laptops in bed. Doing your bills or having arguments in the bed might leave you sleepless in the night.

Avoid Drinking Just Before Hitting the Bed

People usually think that consuming alcohol just before hitting the bed helps them sleep better. But here’s a reality check: it robs you of deep and peaceful sleep which is essential for feeling well-rested and refreshed next day. Now, the effect of alcohol might wear out in a couple of hours in the night, but after that you’d probably be wide awake, unable to sleep, leaving you all groggy and tired the next day. Or you may even wake up with a terrible hangover in the morning.

Don’t Sleep Late in the Day

Dozing off late in the afternoon can make the usual daytime sleepiness worse as it interferes with your nighttime sleep. If you’ve had a good nap, you might not feel sleepy at the regular time in the night. You'll be ending up sleeping late in the night and then getting up late and feeling groggy throughout the day, and thus, turning your body clock upside down.

Set Consistent, Healthy Meal Times

Eating a healthy breakfast and lunch on time prevents energy deficits during the day that aggravate your sleepiness. Try to finish your meal two to three hours before the bed time.