How long is it healthy to sleep?

[Ordree]

Hello. I'm wondering what the healthy daily sleep limit Is? I know it can be dangerous to sleep too long. I'd like to know as frankly I'd rather be awake for as little time as possible under the current circumstances.

Ok.

Have you tried googling it?

I understand the urge to sleep more, but like you've acknowledged, too much sleep is unhealthy. Is there anything you could distract yourself with?
Books.
Movies.
Do you live with anyone?
Board games.
Bake - have biscuit/cupcake decorating competitions if you have children.
Could you video call anyone?

It's a hard new reality being told to stay home all day (especially when you're an extrovert) bar one trip out for exercise, could you use that to go for a long walk? You could explore the area you live in with new eyes.
Take up a new hobby.

There's nothing wrong with cat naps

Internet suggests >9 hours too much but I wonder if this could increase if, like me, you have accumulated sleep deficit.

I have been getting into a rhythm of 12 hours in bed, up for 4 including brief exercise not within 2 metres of anyone else then siesta for 2 then up for 6.

if, like me, you have accumulated sleep deficit

Sleep deficits are a bit of a myth as far as I knew. After a day or two, you should be completely caught up.

If you're feeling tired despite sleeping 9+ hours then there's probably something more going on.

Personally I need a lot of sleep. Minimum 8 hours, but 9 hours is preferable. I can survive on less of course - but I can really feel the effect it has on me.

What prompted your initial question?

Why would it be bad to sleep for ' too long'? Other than, maybe, if it was a symptom of something wrong, like anaemia, perhaps. If you have a sleep deficit, you need to replenish. If you don't want to sleep for more than a certain number of hours at any one time, you could schedule a couple of short naps or one longer nap every day.

I have been getting into a rhythm of 12 hours in bed, up for 4 including brief exercise not within 2 meters of anyone else then siesta for 2 then up for 6.

Along with your earlier comment of

frankly I'd rather be awake for as little time as possible under the current circumstances

It makes me think you should consider talking through your feelings with a counselor/therapist if at all possible. Sleeping a lot won't cause you any physical harm but it can be a sign of deteriorating mental health. To me, it feels like it really would be worth talking to someone if you can. Ironically, keeping busy by filling your day with lots of activities will probably make you feel brighter and more energetic. Sleepy a lot will likely make you feel worse.

I’d be worried you’ll miss out on chances for exercise and fresh air/vitamin D, and become deconditioned

I wonder who came up with this too much sleep is unhealthy bollox.
There’s no such thing as too much sleep. If you have a long sleep then your body obviously needs it so how is it unhealthy?
Newborns and cats seem to be doing fine.
On the other hand, too little sleep on the long term..

The idea that over 9 hours of sleep is dangerous is crap imo.
For once, if you are unwell, have a chronic conditions etc... you might well NEED that number if hours. I would also assume this will be the case if you are exhausted, for whatever reasons, and you will do that until you have recovered.

I personally have never met someone who slept for hours when they dindt need to. People usually wake up when they’ve enough sleep!!
On the other side, I’ve met many people who never sleep enough and constantly exhausted....

If you are sleeping that much, I’d gather that you’ve been pushing yourself for months, nit getting enough sleep and it’s finally catching up with you now that you’ve stopped.
Which is good because this will help boost your immune system.

These differing opinions are the reason I asked. I am trying to find a strategy to pass the time with as little engagement as possible with the world as frankly I hate it at the moment.

If you're sleeping for 14 hours that's around double what the average adult gets (most adults don't get the full 8 hours) so that does seem like a lot. It's what people do when they are ill, have a fatigue disorder of some kind, are depressed, or for a few days due to a sleep debt or jet lag. Not something that should become a regular pattern. And if it is I would question the underlying cause and yes it could cause issues.

Sleep less it will just lead to depression or sounds like you are using it as an avoidance strategy. exercise more meditate don't watch the news too much find a hobby or interest and read/listen to audio/watch movies etc.

Rather than counting hours, keep a routine as close to normal as possible.

I gave myself a few days to sleep in, take naps etc. Now I'm in a work-like routine - I get up by 7.30, and I go to bed around 10.30.

To help with time passing, I've found it's good to divide the day up into zones or chunks. My first chunk is breakfast, hygiene, chores. Then I have a cuppa and a short break. My next chunk is work (it could be study or hobbies) then lunch and another break, which often involves a phone call or video call to family. Then another work chunk (again, could be a study or hobby chunk). Then another chores chunk, including dinner prep, maybe some more exercise. After dinner and dishes, it's a big relaxation chunk. This is when Netflix or whatever is OK. I'm bingeing on Call the Midwife atm. Bed with radio or podcast or audio book if you can't get to sleep straight away. Get up at 7.30 next day, regardless of how I slept. Rinse and repeat.

At home yoga is really good for home based exercise that will also help with mood, and help with regulating sleep.

Log onto Do Yoga With Me online (free membership for 3 months). You can choose lessons based on length, beginner or advanced etc.

Choose under 20 min, beginner. Because for someone who's sleeping so much in avoidance, you want to choose the easiest classes.