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What Is Non-Restorative Sleep?
Is there such a thing as waking up on the wrong side of the bed? We’ve all had those mornings where you can’t shake a feeling of sluggishness, even though you have gotten “enough” sleep from a time in bed standpoint. Your mental and motor functions aren’t as sharp as they usually are. Suddenly, being awake feels tiring, and you are stuck in a sleep-like state.
Non-restorative sleep is characterized by feeling unrefreshed despite sleeping for what seems to be an adequate amount of hours. Non-restorative sleep can play a crucial role in several chronic conditions that impact pain, fatigue, and mood. Waking up tired can also broadly impact your productivity for the day. Some people find themselves dragging their feet to even do simple tasks such as taking a shower. This lethargic feeling may be familiar for some, but if you experience it for extended periods of time, it is best to consult your doctor.
As you go through a repeated occurrence of weariness, you might want to check any changes happening in your body or routine. Even small changes can contribute to your sudden decrease in sleep quality. If you constantly ask, why are you so tired in the morning? Then it’s worth the time to dig in and review your sleeping habits.
Causes of Non-Restorative Sleep
Below are the typical reasons why most people experience non-restorative sleep. As you review the list below, take note if any of these resonate with you.
1. Waking up during the deepest stage of sleep
If you experience grogginess after waking, sleep inertia might be to blame. People usually experience sleep inertia when they suddenly wake during REM sleep. The groggy feeling generally lasts between 15 to 60 minutes upon waking up. While sleep inertia is often a normal phenomenon, establishing a regular wake up routine can help limit the occurences. In some cases, there could be an underlying condition that could contribute to its occurrence.
2. Brain overload: Thinking Excessively
Are you starting a new job? Expecting a new baby? Or entering another relationship? Life-changing events and sudden lifestyle changes can wreak havoc on your morning routine. From daily challenges and stress factors to other conditions like anxiety or depression, your sleep quality largely depends on your state of mind. If you are already mentally drained, you are more likely to feel the same after long hours of sleep at night.
3. Inconsistent Sleeping Pattern
Not sleeping or waking up at a fixed time can disrupt and confuse your body clock. Stick to a sleeping schedule that you can follow every day. If you constantly leave your body and mind guessing when it will rest, the more you wake up tired. While getting eight hours of sleep is the standard, it also matters when you do it and how regular that routine impacts the quality of those hours spent asleep.
4. Improper and Unbalanced Diet
As the old saying goes, "You are what you eat." Whatever you've intaken during the day can significantly affect how well you can sleep at night. A poor or stressed digestive system can leave you tired the next day. It is essential to check your diet and eat in accordance with what your body needs.
5. Disorganized and Uncomfortable Bedroom
If you want to achieve restorative sleep consistently, comfort should always come on your list. A comfortable bedroom sets a fantastic rest apart from a poor and disrupted sleep. A worn out, old bed can strain your muscles and joints. Sleeping in a cluttered room with distracting noises can also result in non-restorative sleep. It is best to limit your distraction in the bedroom and invest in a mattress that supports you properly.
The Consequences of Having Insufficient Restorative Sleep
Non-restorative sleep can take a massive toll on your physical and mental health. The effects can be short-term or long-term depending on the impact. Some of the consequences include:
1. Daytime drowsiness
If a person rests poorly, they can feel groggy throughout the day. This state can lead to drowsy driving, low productivity, difficulty concentrating, and slower mental recall.
2. Mood
It is no surprise that a person may turn cranky or irritable if he can’t overcome his sleepiness throughout the day. Some people experience headaches as a result of their lack of sleep that further impact their mood.
3. Microsleep
Some people’s bodies resort to micro-sleeping to recharge for a few moments. The person is often unaware of these short episodes of sleep as they experience a feeling of heavy eyelids, trouble concentrating, and blank staring. While the person works to perform tasks, they may sometimes feel short bursts of unconsciousness that may feel a bit like blacking out.
4. Memory Issues
When a person has a non-restorative sleep, they tend to wake up from time to time throughout the night. As a result of insufficient sleep, their brains have a hard time staying on track and functioning seamlessly throughout the day. Disrupted and broken sleep patterns can affect your concentration and memory recall.
How to Increase Restorative Sleep
To facilitate restorative sleep, one must deliberately eliminate sources of sleep disturbances. You may use a dim lamp as you prepare for sleep or blackout curtains as you sleep to avoid being distracted by excessive lighting. The place where you rest should be comfortable and have a colder atmosphere, if possible. Lastly, choose pillows and a mattress that support your individual needs to foster restful and restorative sleep.
Bryte is the leading Restorative Sleep Technology™ platform backed by sleep science and powered by AI. Bryte's turn-key hardware, software and services platform is available for consumers, licensing to select mattress manufacturing, and hospitality partners.
Bryte’s Restorative Sleep Technology is purpose-designed to actively nurture natural, more restorative sleep. Bryte RebalancingTM sensor monitor for pressure imbalances as you shift throughout the night and relieve any pressure points to eliminate wake events and foster more restorative, unbroken sleep. An embedded sensory network within the mattress detects biometrics such as heart rate and breathing patterns to identify when a sleeper enters the first stage of sleep. Bryte’s climate system then triggers cooling features to lower the body's core temperature and gently guide sleepers through an optimal balance of sleep stages.
The Restorative Bed™ uses science-backed technology to help you achieve restorative sleep by helping you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake feeling more restored. Bryte’s purpose-built software can help you analyze your sleep quality as well. Check out our mattresses and get the sleep you deserve every night. For more information, visit Bryte.com.
