Slept 18 hours straight, is it unhealthy?

Question

I could've slept more if I didn't have to go to class.

I have been having too little sleep lately because of Uni and stress, I pulled an all-nighter the day before but ended up sleeping 18 hours yesterday and I'm still tired. I can't afford this much sleep with the work I have to complete T_T
Is this normal?

Levin · Accepted Answer

My cousin does this. He works all week and then goes out pretty much every night. So during the weekend he will sleep through most of the day.

Obviously, your body requires a certain amount of sleep, rest and nourishment. Hence the extra sleep. Is it healthy? That's a matter of perspective. Obviously, we have different forces pulling on us. There's the societal force, of implicitly, you have to bleed yourself dry to get anywhere in the world, you have to compete against others, the more you do the better, it's important to build up a life and status etc. While I do think 'hard work' is important to a degree, obviously, if you don't have enough rest and time to yourself, your nervous system depletes, as does your immune system, you start to get ill, you feel worn out. Do this indefinitely, and it's barely worth being alive as a feeling human being...

So no, it's not healthy. But most people argue it is worth it, hence why they do it. Just be sure on your motivations and the 'external pressures to be such and such' if you want to do this indefinitely. Because rest assured, once you get your BA/bsc, then there's your masters, then your PHD, or your professional qualifications. And then there's all the hours you have to put in at work. And the kids. And the husband, etc :)

Purely rationally, rest makes you more efficient. But it's hard to get it, if your mindset is to rest in order to be more efficient, to work harder...

super147 · Accepted Answer

Lol, it's not unusual when you are younger and have been sleep deprived for some time. I've know people who did that in their late teens and early 20's. My personal record was 14 hours I think. Usually as you get older it becomes less and less likely that you can do that.

It's not surprising that you still feel tired though, when you oversleep you often do wake up feeling tired. It's a bit like coming out of a small coma, it takes some time to reboot your system and get back to full strength. You most likely need some fresh air and perhaps a little physical exercise to get your heart rate and breathing back up.

If you like I can check up on you when you've gone to sleep? If you haven't moved for 20 hours or so then I'll just assume that you've died and I'll donate your stuff to charity, lol! :P

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Your body just needed to catch up on sleep, it's fine. That's the thing about college and Uni, the late nights and the busy schedules keep us from maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, but sometimes that's just how it is. Just make sure to catch up on sleep whenever and wherever you can.
Tbh though, weed helps me a lot when I'm in school. I have a tendency to get anxiety when I feel overwhelmed and stressed with school, which then negatively impacts my sleep. I would spend hours tossing and turning before actually falling asleep, but smoking a little right before bed seems to do the trick.

fauchelevent · Accepted Answer

I just did more or less the same :P Went to bed at 6am, got woken up at 12 by the landlord coming by for a quick inspection, got back into bed and woke up about 10 minutes ago. I feel super shitty right now :P It's not something that I normally do.

lumos · Accepted Answer

Oversleeping is just as unhealthy as not getting enough sleep.
You should try to schedule your time more carefully so that you don't end up pulling one nighters, which then make you crash for almost an entire day.

Rainie_ · Answer

Happens to me when I've had a hell of a lack of sleep, your body is working more than it can handle and becomes too exhausted. You need to get into the habit of sleeping at the absolute minimum of 6 hours, preferably 8 hours though for a completely normal and healthy sleep cycle. Also having enough sleep is much better for your brain and your energy levels so it will be better in the long run for you.

Hans222 · Answer

What is wrong is to deprive yourself so badly from sleep :o
The 18 hours sleeping was probably an alarm message of your body, and that you're slill sleepy is because you've gone too deep into your arsenal of forces.
I'm afraid you'll have to change some habits to really feel better.
Doing something crazy from time to time can be okay but you've probably done it too often :-(

Ghassan · Answer

It's unhealthy if you do that often. It's more unhealthy not giving your body time to sleep. Night sleep is of course better, especially from 9 to 12 o'clock. I've heard that every hour from 9 to 12 is worth 3 hours of sleep during the day, but I'm not sure if this is true.

Anonymous · Answer

you can't make up missed sleep in a night. it usually takes a week of consistent sleep (at least 5 hours a night), i've found less than 3 hours is basically useless. you might as well not sleep at all since your memory will be crap. more sleep, the better your recall will be, as long as you spread it out.

JohnDoe3000 · Answer

Apparently you needed the sleep. It's your body's reaction to sleep deprivation. You should be concerned about your lack of sleep on the other days, not about sleeping 18 hours on this one day.

FakeName123 · Answer

You are sleeping too little usually, have too much stress, pull and all-outer AND try to diet and lose weight.

What did you expect gonna happen to your body when you strain it to that amount? That really ain't rocket science.

mooky06 · Answer

It sounds understandable. I wish I could sleep for 18 hours straight. I get either 35 hours (or under) of sleep within a week. 18 hours would be bliss.

Blonde401 · Answer

Far too much. It's unhealthy to sleep 10 or more hours a night. If it's just cause you're super tired and it's a rare thing, it's ok but don't make it a habit.

Xfitchick · Answer

If you can sleep 18 hours, it means your body tells you it needs it. Try to avoid short nights. That is unhealthy.

kinggeorge007 · Answer

Well when you sleep more than you need you may get hungover like feeling which you can also feels like tiredness. However it's not unhealthy but it will temporarily affect your bio clock and will have sleeping irregularities a few days. That's it...

HaveNoName · Answer

That's ok. Human body after all needs rest. Try to take an 8-10 hr sleep. just one night of the week. That will help you catch up. The remaining nights, you can focus on studies.

Wish you the very best.

archiz · Answer

I soooo wish I could do that right now anw sarra, let this be a lesson, you need to lsten to your body and have a healthy balance. pushing yourself to the edge isn t going to lead you anywhere

Rissyanne · Answer

If you didn't anything to help you sleep... you must have needed it. I wish I could sleep that long. The longest I sleep is 6 hours.

jman46241 · Answer

Well what do you expect after sleeping 18 hours? Of course you're going to feel tired. I'd be more concerned about getting up to pee or eat honestly..

Venusss · Answer

Actually over sleeping will make you more tired and in the long run can affect your body. Do try to get your balance back.

matheus_mb · Answer

Given the little sleep and stress situation, I believe it's normal.

Mustachekitteh · Answer

Lack of sleep and stress probably caused it but that isn't good.

Saoirse_Nua · Answer

No worries - It just your body saying you need sleep - When you get a break you will sleep like crazy for a few days then get back to normal

akadatank44 · Answer

Have you been not sleeping? Sounds like your body finally decided to catch up on sleep you've been missing. it's not good in the long run. Get at least 6 hours a night. 7 or 8 woukd be better

SoFeckinAddicted · Answer

You're not eating well, you're not sleeping well, you're really not taking care of your body. I don't want to sound annoying but you need to look out for yourself and give your body what it needs.

ProbablyTooMature · Answer

One time when I was sick I got about twenty hours of sleep. Sometimes your body just needs it.

Elarra · Answer

If you do it all the time, yes. I can't even sleep 3 hours, though.

Phoenix98 · Answer

What's more unhealthy is the fact that you were so deprived of sleep that your body felt the need to go and sleep that long to begin with.

Unit1 · Answer

It's fine! You are "paying off" your "sleep debts" as we may call it. Nothing to worry about. You cannot go wrong with more sleep.

PiuBravoRagazzo · Answer

<3 it is not unhealthy for you my love <3 you needed to catch up <3 You should aim to get at least 6 hours a day! 8-10 is idea <3

ThisDudeHere · Answer

This one instance is an expected reaction to your schedule. But the schedule itself is not normal.

Usersame · Answer

It is in the long run. But don't worry, like you said you were exausted so it too shall pass. P. S. I know your pain.

Likes2drive · Answer

I did that once because I was up for 30 hours and then I lost track of what day it was when I woke up after that long but it's not unhealthy but you may have a headache and be very hungry

Cosytoasty · Answer

It's fine once Ina while, you're just catching up.  I slept 12 hours last night too.

yucel_eden · Answer

Koalas sleep 21 hours a day.  Koalas love sleep. You might be a koala

Yumix · Answer

a shitty sleep schedule is in the long term unhealthy, but if this is an exception then there is nothing to worry about

hotstuffSRD · Answer

Nope its not unhealthy  Plus 8 hours of sleep everyday is compulsory for youngsters  I wish I could sleep that much  I hardly sleep 3-4 hours a day

BonjourMadam · Answer

If you sleep longer than 10 hours, It will make a bad effect to you

chutiyaguy · Answer

wish i could just be asleep 24x7, this world is a bitch

Waffles731 · Answer

It can be, don't do it all the time and you'll be fine though

Dr_F0X · Answer

above certain limit the more you slerp the more tired you will be

babeeeone · Answer

It's not normal but I'd kinda like to know what it's like to sleep for almost an entire day

Flow_like_the_wind · Answer

That's way too much. The target range is at least 7-8 hours a night.

EnteringValhalla · Answer

its not unhealthy.. i wish i can sleep that long. im jelly

EdirneCigeri · Answer

yes so unhealty how did u fight with lots of dreams? :D

SirenDep · Answer

It can happen if you exhaust yourself

GGazpacho · Answer

I do it all the time...

SlightlyCrazy · Answer

No it's not. Better then no sleep

Anonymous · Answer

18 hours? Why not go for the world record?

Anonymous · Answer

Yes that is unhealthy. Is diabetes in your family?

NajemEddine · Answer

for a tn girl its normal  more sleep😴😴😴😴

Anonymous · Answer

if you are tired just sleep.

Anonymous · Answer

yes! i can't believe you can sleep like that!

HardcoreLiberal · Answer

it is too much don't sleep more than 10 hours

YOussefElAdl · Answer

sometimes i sleep for like 36 hr who cares :D

lowellkane · Answer

that's right I will try

Anonymous · Answer

If you keep doing it, yeah

capturemyheartnow · Answer

Are you lazy?

Triss · Answer

Nah not at all

Anonymous · Answer

Seek help from doctors!

FolexGT · Answer

Hahaa. Not normal.

Omar5881 · Answer

Nah its okie

Slept 18 hours straight, is it unhealthy?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Slept 18 hours straight, is it unhealthy?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.