Is it healthy to take lots of naps on the weekend if you have insomnia during the week?

Question

I have insomnia most work nights, only getting 5-6 hours. I catch up on my sleep on the weekends. Is this healthy?

Answer 1

Mostly yes. I am an athletic medicine student trainer at my school so I have been over this type of issue before. Just think of yourself carrying a backpack- every hour of sleep you miss that your body needs, its like adding 2 bricks to your backpack. Eventually when you seriously are lacking in sleep your body shuts down (just like you would eventually tire out from carrying a bunch of bricks in your backpack). This is a simplistic way of understanding your body's need for sleep but I think you get the point. Your napping on the weekend is just your body's way of "catching up" of the sleep you need. The only down side is you miss out on the weekend activities you could be doing :]

Answer 2

Your comment brings much to the table. If you have no problem taking naps on weekends, what is the problem of not sleeping at night?? Suggest anything to you?

The hours of sleep you need are not the real criteria. The needed amount of sleep depends on many things Including age, amount of daily activity, whether you are sedentary most of the time. 5-6 hours is usually sufficient unless you are a teenager. I manage with 4 hrs with an occasional nap in the daytime. This being an age factor as well as sedentary.

The factor which is brought to light in your statement refers to your job. There appears to be some under currents here. It may be worth examining what it is you bring home with you to prevent sleeping, as you would desire. Are you unable to leave it at the office?

Insomnia infers the inability to go to sleep. You indicate only that you get 5-6 hours of sleep.. Needs slight clarification!

Answer 3

My question would be: Do you know the root cause of your insomnia? I too sleep poorly on some nights, but I am menopausal and have hypothyroidism, both are causes of insomnia so I know that I will have some poor sleep. I try to catch up the very next night, if possible, by going to bed earlier.
The easiest way to rectify your problem is go to bed at the same time every night.
Don't eat after 6 pm.
Don't watch anything stressful on TV before bed, this type of programming can cause disturbing dreams.
Don't exercise or drink decaffeinated beverages after 12 pm, these only wake you not calm you.
Drink chamomile tea or warm milk before bed, both proven to make you want to sleep.
Use lavender scented bath wash or lotion before bed, this has a calming effect and will make you sleepy.
If you have trouble getting to sleep, try melatonin - you can get this OTC.

Answer 4

Yes..but too much sleeping can contribute to your insomnia during the week. Getting TOO MUCH sleep can be just as bad as NOT GETTING ENOUGH.

just try and get on a good sleeping sch.

don't sleep for more than 8 hours a night, and no more than 2 hours once a day in a nap.

Answer 5

not really, you cannot "catch up" on sleep. and those naps probably contribute to your insomnia. You need to make and keep a regular schedule of bedtimes. Relax one half hour prior to bedtime, no tv, no radio, no computer, just one half hour of relaxing, try reading a book. Go to bed at the same time every night seven nights a week, and perhaps you will straighten out your disrupted sleep pattern.

Answer 6

It is fine. Your body needs time to regenerate and heal itself. If you are getting extra sleep a few days a week, although it won't completely catch you up, it will help. Insomnia causes lots of problems, such as, moodiness, lack of concentration, over-eating and weight gain, early aging, lowered immune system, slowed metabolism and digestion, and lots of other things.

Answer 7

I think 'most everyone catches up on sleep on the weekends.

Answer 8

It's healthy to be well rested.