How to Avoid Sleep After Lunch? (2024)

It is not uncommon to feel sleepy in the daytime, especially after we have eaten too much. This could be a result of an unhealthy sleep cycle or digestion patterns. When this daytime sleepiness starts affecting our daily life, we need to start learning how to avoid sleep after lunch. The type of food we take, and the timing of our various meals also go on to impact if we feel sleepy in the daytime or not. Most people experience a decrease in energy levels after they’ve eaten- this condition is called postprandial somnolence.

Researchers around the world have different theories about daytime tiredness, but most of them agree that it is a natural response and should not be worried about it. Physical and mental fatigue have different symptoms, but they often occur together. One reason you could be feeling tired after lunch is that you might not have got enough sleep in the night.1 out of 3 Americans complain of the same. We have discussed a number of things below other than how to avoid sleep after lunch, such as:

• Why Do I Feel Tired After Eating?
• The Pros and Cons of Sleep After Lunch
• How to Avoid Sleep After Lunch
• Commonly Asked Questions

When you feel tired or have difficulty concentrating after a meal- you’re not the only one facing this problem out there. People can feel very tired, depending on what they ate when they ate and how much they ate because of which most of us are trying to find out how to avoid sleep after lunch. You could be feeling tired after lunch because you had a greater portion of carbohydrates, which makes you sleepier as compared to other food. This is because after eating carbs, your body produces more serotonin than usual, which calms your mind and makes you feel drowsy.

Another amino acid is known as tryptophan also helps the body produce serotonin. A protein-rich food is a great supplier of tryptophan and carbohydrates help absorb this amino acid in the body. Thus, eating a meal that is rich in protein and carbs can also cause you to feel sleepy after lunch. Postprandial somnolence is also likely to be felt more by people who have taken a heavy lunch. Every time you eat, there is a hike in your blood sugar levels, which causes your energy to fall down. Other factors that contribute to daytime sleepiness are poor sleep at night and intake of alcohol with a meal.

Whenever you feel sleep-deprived or want to find a way to relax, you could resort to taking a nap. However, if you nap at the wrong time, the chances are that it could backfire and make the rest of the day difficult for you. There are certain benefits of napping, such as-

• Relaxation
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased Alertness
• Improved mood
• Improved Performance
• Quicker reaction time and better memory
• Increased concentration

Napping isn’t for everyone, and some people naturally do not find it easy to sleep in a place that is not their own. Moreover, there are certain drawbacks to sleeping in the daytime as well-

• Sleep Inertia– After you wake up from a nap, instead of feeling fresh and rested, you might feel groggy or disoriented at your place of work.
• Nighttime Sleeping Problems — Usually, short naps in the day do not have a considerable effect on your sleep cycle at night. However, if you have a sleep disorder or insomnia, you might want to avoid sleeping in the daytime because frequent naps can often interfere with your nighttime sleep.

You should consider taking a nap if –

• You experience unexpected fatigue and sleepiness.
• You have to suffer a loss of sleep later, for instance, due to a late-night work shift.

Nearly everyone has days where they feel very sleepy after lunchtime. For some people, however, daytime sleepiness becomes a major problem at work or at school. Unusual sleepiness is often the result of hypersomnia in which a person suffers from recurrent sleepiness, which makes a person nap want to nap during the day time. If you want to know how to avoid sleep after lunch, follow the steps below-

• Get Enough Sleep at Night

If you compromise on your sleep in the night, then the chances are that you will feel fairly tired and fatigued later in the day. Most of us compromise with our daily dose of sleep for an extra few minute of work or self-pampering. Avoid doing this if you want to make sure you’re energetic and healthy throughout the day.

• Set A Sleep Routine

Make sure that you have a set time when you sleep, and a definite time when you wake up in the morning. Follow healthy sleeping habits like closing your gadgets before sleep time and reading a book or listening to music.

• Exercise

Regular exercise has multiple benefits. It gives you daytime energy and keeps your thinking sharp. If you exercise out in the daylight, you’ll probably have even more benefits than a workout at nighttime.

If you had a meal that was very rich in protein and carbohydrates during lunch, then the chances are that you will feel very sleepy because of the serotonin that they produce. Protein-rich food also contains tryptophan, which helps the body further produce serotonin.

Your body begins to gain weight when you take more calories than you’re burning. If you go to sleep immediately after eating your lunch, it is possible that you might gain an unhealthy amount of weight. If you’re planning to sleep after lunch, make sure that you have a lighter meal than usual.

If you’re sleepy in the daytime and wish to avoid it, try the following-

• Get enough sleep in the night
• Don’t use gadgets before bedtime
• Set a definite time to wake up each morning
• Start sleeping and waking up early