What Are the Disadvantages of Sleeping in the Afternoon?

Ah, the afternoon nap... It’s the golden hour for some, the time when you can finally close your eyes and get some well-deserved rest. I get it, who doesn’t love a little siesta after a long day? But, and this is something I’ve learned the hard way, napping in the afternoon can sometimes have its downsides. You may think it's just a quick recharge, but there are some hidden drawbacks that can really mess with your evening routine. So, let's dive into why the afternoon nap might not always be your best friend.

Sleep Inertia – Waking Up Like a Zombie

First off, one of the biggest issues with napping during the day is sleep inertia. It's that groggy, disoriented feeling when you wake up after sleeping for just a short period. You know what I mean? You look at the clock, it's 3:00 PM, and you're thinking, “What year is it? Why am I here?” Napping, especially if you sleep for more than 30 minutes, can throw off your body’s rhythm. The longer you sleep, the harder it is to get up, and it can sometimes take you up to 30 minutes to feel "normal" again.

I used to take naps all the time—especially after lunch—and then I realized, I was spending the rest of the afternoon feeling like a zombie. My productivity was plummeting, and I was more tired than before. So, yeah, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Disrupting Your Nighttime Sleep

Here’s a biggie: if you nap too long or nap too late in the day, you risk messing with your nighttime sleep. Our bodies are creatures of habit, and they thrive on routine. When you sleep in the afternoon, your body may get confused about when it’s supposed to sleep at night. Napping late in the afternoon—say after 4 or 5 PM—can shift your circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep at night.

I know some people (myself included) have tried napping, only to end up tossing and turning at 1 AM wondering why they can't fall asleep. It's a vicious cycle: nap in the afternoon, wake up groggy, stay up too late, and then the next day, you’re even more tired than before. If you’ve ever been in that cycle, you know how frustrating it can be.

Affects Your Mood and Mental Clarity

I don’t know about you, but if I nap too long, I wake up cranky. And I’m not just talking about being a little irritated—I'm talking full-on, don't talk to me until I’ve had my coffee kind of mood. It's not just me either. Studies have shown that naps, particularly those that last too long, can negatively impact your mood. It’s like your brain is in a fog, and it’s hard to focus on anything.

If you’re like me, you may also experience a sort of "mental hangover" after waking from a nap. It’s like my brain’s been on pause for a few hours and now it needs time to catch up. You might feel less sharp or foggy, and your attention span can take a hit. This is especially problematic if you have things to do in the afternoon, like meetings, deadlines, or even just making dinner without burning it (which, let’s be honest, is sometimes harder than it sounds).

Napping Can Be a Crutch, Not a Solution

Sometimes, we use naps as a quick fix to avoid addressing bigger issues. If you’re constantly napping in the afternoon, it could be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep at night. While an occasional afternoon nap is fine, relying on it too much can prevent you from addressing the real issue: your nighttime sleep hygiene.

Maybe you’ve been staying up too late binge-watching Netflix (we’ve all been there, right?) or scrolling through Instagram instead of getting those precious 7-9 hours of sleep. If you find yourself needing naps every single day to get through the afternoon, it might be time to rethink your sleep routine. Napping shouldn’t be your go-to solution if you’re chronically tired. Instead, focus on fixing your nighttime sleep habits.

The Social Side: Missing Out on Life

Here’s another downside, especially if you're someone who has an active social life. Napping in the afternoon might mean you’re missing out on opportunities to hang out with friends or do activities that could be energizing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken a nap only to wake up and find out that my friends decided to grab a coffee or catch a movie.

Of course, naps are great for your health, but they can become a bit of a social drain if you’re napping at the wrong time. Suddenly, the afternoon, which was meant to recharge you, ends up making you feel isolated. Not the best trade-off, right?

Conclusion: Naps Aren’t the Enemy, But Timing is Key

So, can you still take a nap in the afternoon? Absolutely. I’m not here to say that naps are evil—they can actually be super beneficial, especially when you're sleep-deprived or need a quick energy boost. However, it's all about timing. Short naps (about 20-30 minutes) are typically the best because they allow you to feel refreshed without the downsides.

But if you find yourself sleeping for hours in the middle of the day and then struggling to sleep at night, or feeling off for the rest of the day, it might be time to reassess your nap strategy. Your body craves routine, and that means keeping your naps to a minimum, ideally in the earlier part of the day.

And, hey, if you're finding that naps are just a crutch for something else, maybe it's time to take a step back and focus on the bigger picture: your overall sleep health. After all, there’s no magic fix... just a balanced approach to sleep. Keep it short, keep it sweet, and enjoy your naps without letting them mess with your rhythm.

So, what’s your nap game plan? Are you a serial napper, or are you one of those people who can power through the day with no issues at all? Either way, I think we can agree: sleep is an art... and sometimes, an afternoon nap might just be a little too much of a good thing!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.