Things That Can Make You Drowsy

Foods that are high in carbohydrates can make you feel sleepy.

Feeling sleepy throughout the day can be difficult to handle. It is not only annoying but could be a symptom of other issues. Keep track of the things that can make you drowsy during the day to find the cause of your drowsiness. If your goal is to get to sleep at night, perhaps use these findings to get more sleep.

Lack of Light

Not getting enough natural light can make you feel drowsy. This lack of light exposure can result in low levels of vitamin D and induces sleep and reduces energy. That can explain why people tend to be more depressed and less likely to be active during dark and cold seasons. To counteract your low energy, go for 10-minute walks during the day and expose yourself to light.

Inactivity

Being excessively sedentary can make you drowsy. Sitting still and not moving makes your body feel like going to sleep. When you're sitting at a desk working, you are not blinking as much as when you're active. Inactivity can sometimes be more tiring than being overactive. Try and squeeze bursts of activity into your day to counteract drowsiness.

Dehydration

Being dehydrated can lead you to feel drowsy. As soon as you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. The standard recommendation is to drink at least eight glasses of water per day.

Food

Eating foods that are high on the glycemic index, such as bagels, bread, potatoes and honey can put you in a bit of a carbohydrate coma. White bagels and breads, in contrast to the whole-wheat versions, hit the index the hardest. They make you sleepy by making the blood sugar rise rapidly and then crash down suddenly. Once that crash happens, sudden drowsiness is the result.

References

• "Redbook" Magazine: 12 Surprising Things That Are Making You Tired
• "Reader's Digest": 20 Foods That Make You Sleepy