Making it through the day without a nap

[DaveDave]

I am constantly tired all the time. Generally get 8 hours sleep a night. However I still can't get through the day without having a nap (when I can). Bloods back from the doctors and all ok. I am overweight a bit abs don't have the best diet. 2 young kids 6 and 8 and am 45. Have a Berocca daily. Work full time.

Aibu to think I should be able to get through the day without napping? Any top tips for increasing my energy?

Are you working from home or napping at work?

Working at home and have a nap in my lunch hour.

I’d start start with your diet if you know it could be better.

How much exercise are you doing? Inactivity in itself can be tiring. You need to get your blood flowing.

Increase your vitamin D and B12 intake.

Following with interest as I am the same. I love having a nap around 2pm and I still sleep a full night every night, which can’t be right.

Vit D, sun, fresh air, diet? Are you eating a lot of sugary/simple carby stuff and then crashing maybe?

Do you get enough fresh air and hydration? My friends and I call it a houseplant check.

Do not lie down in your lunch hour and you won't fall asleep !!

Get outside and drink a lot of water. Houseplant check, as PP says

How long do you nap for and do you feel refreshed for it?

Love the houseplant check analogy. I usually nap for an hour and yes do feel better for it. I think I do need to make big diet improvements, maybe this is the push I need.

Do you exercise at all? Exercising gives me more energy.
If your bloods are ok and you’re getting 8 hrs, I’d say, just don’t lie down at lunch!

Sleep apnea

Do you feel ok after the nap? I would take all the advice as above which seems really sensible but you may just be someone who needs an afternoon nap. We all have different energy levels - if it isn't causing a problem I would continue to nap if I felt I needed it.

I think if you have an hour in your life to nap, you feel better for it and it doesn't disrupt your night time sleep and in the absence of any health ailments I'd just lean into it.

Perhaps Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Just have the nap!

Could you be peri/menopausal? I was chatting to a group of women recently about menopause and one woman who had gone through it (the rest of us are in our 30s) said she was absolutely exhausted, for a few years(!), during the perimenopausal stage.

Could be peri! I could also just be lazy!

And no I don't exercise at all. Really I should use that hour to go for a run

Perimenopause I reckon.
At a similar age this was my worst symptom.

Do you have a carby lunch? I’m always exceedingly tired if I do.

I have napped from my teens, now in my forties. I love a nap. I think I was made for napping.

How overweight? (Sleep apnea is more common the more overweight you are).

Quality of sleep- lights, environment, TV/phone before bed?

And yes, definitely diet and exercise. I sleep so much better for doing regular exercise. It's the only discernible benefit I can see, but it's definitely there!

I have always been like this. Sometimes anaemic, sometimes not. Sometimes lacking in vit D, sometimes not. Both overweight and not. I can’t seem to get over it no matter how my diet, how much I exercise or my blood test results.

And I'm a BIG fan of naps, but you shouldn't 'need' one.