How comes I feel so bad after a "power snooze" ?

August 3, 2006 2:42 PM

How comes when one wakes up after sleeping during the day - they do not have the same refreshment as nighttime sleep?

I am not sure if this applies to everyone but in the rare cases
when I grab an hour or two of shuteye during the day - I feel horrible afterwards and start craving for anything with sugar in it. Its not like the refreshing sleep you have at night - why is this ?


I know its just an hour or two but what happens the body during this time that makes you feel so bad after waking up ?

posted by jacobean to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

Best answer: It sounds like you are napping too long. Read this.
posted by peep at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2006

Sleep has four different stages... you don't get into the deeper stages of sleep during the day. So the body can't activate its full range of repair functions. If you are awakened all night, you won't feel refreshed at all.
posted by chef_boyardee at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2006

I used to encounter the same thing. Now I try to limit myself to a 15-20 minute power nap, which is usually just right to perk up until bedtime.
posted by Addlepated at 3:07 PM on August 3, 2006 [1 favorite]

Part of it's chemical, as well. Your body releases melatonin when the sun goes down. Melatonin helps you feel 'sleepy' in the first place, and has a lot to do with the quality/restfulness of your sleep.
posted by SpecialK at 3:15 PM on August 3, 2006

ISTR hearing that Frederick the Great of Prussia used to nap in a chair, holding a heavy metal key. When fell deeply asleep, the key would slip out of his hands and clatter on the floor, waking him up. It thus pulled him out of sleep at exactly the right moment for him to feel refreshed (or so the story goes).
posted by athenian at 3:26 PM on August 3, 2006

The possible factors behind this vary enormously - maybe you aren't sleeping enough generally, or are napping too long, maybe you are dehydrated, maybe you aren't getting enough nutrition, or eating big lunches, or drinking too much of caffine, or have blood-sugar issues, or any combination of those things.

In my experience sleep is fairly idiosyncratic, so it could be better for you to just experiment with it - try sleeping for less time when you nap, or have a lighter lunch, or try sleeping in a room with a little sunlight. But don't discount non-nap factors like lifestyle and general health.
posted by MetaMonkey at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2006

Your experience is certainly not universal. When I nap during the day I do dream and I do awake feeling refreshed. I don't awake feeling hungry and washed out, the way you describe.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 3:59 PM on August 3, 2006

Yeah, the ten minute nap is by far the best.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:04 PM on August 3, 2006

Sleep cycles are generally 90 minutes.

20 min nap (+5-10 min to actually get to sleep) is light sleep.

When you go beyond the 30 min point - to the 90 min point...you're 'asleep' still...and will take that time to overcome a sleep inertia ( a phrase I still love.)

Shorter naps...or longer ones (to 3 hours) are better.
posted by filmgeek at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2006

Go.
posted by ed\26h at 5:35 PM on August 3, 2006

If you drink coffee, you might want to try a caffeine nap.
posted by wryly at 6:44 PM on August 3, 2006 [1 favorite]

I'm no expert in this area, but it certainly sounds like Circadian rhythms might have something to do with it.
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 6:48 PM on August 3, 2006

Relevant Lifehacker postings on the subject of naps.
posted by NYCinephile at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2006