what is sleep inertia

What Is Sleep Inertia?

Sleep inertia is a condition that occurs after waking and causes brief cognitive and physical impairment. You might have experienced it (or experience it regularly) as a groggy sensation or the feeling that you “aren’t yourself” until you’ve had time to wake up fully. Sleep inertia can occur even after a good night’s sleep.

This article explains what causes sleep inertia and its symptoms, how to overcome sleep inertia when it occurs and how to prevent sleep inertia.

Symptoms of Sleep Inertia

Most people are familiar with sleep inertia symptoms, even if they don’t know the condition has a name. The sensations can vary in intensity, but they typically include:

• Disorientation
• Drowsiness
• Irritability and mood swings
• Trouble communicating
• Inattentiveness
• Problems with learning and remembering
• Poor reaction time
• Decreased motor skills, including lack of balance and coordination
• Poor reasoning and decision-making

Is sleep inertia normal? The answer depends on the degree of impairment. If you feel a little groggy in the morning but typically rally quickly, that’s normal. If the grogginess is intense, lasts a long time or both, you might want to take action to address the condition’s effect on your life.

Causes of Sleep Inertia

Sleep inertia has several potential causes. While it can be challenging to determine the precise reason for an episode, the problem typically involves one or more of the following:

• Waking from deep sleep. Sleep occurs in four stages that we cycle through during the night. NREM stage 3 is the deepest sleep stage. If you wake while in this stage, you’ll likely experience some sleep inertia.
• Inadequate sleep hours. If you don’t get the amount of sleep your body needs (most people require 7 to 9 hours), you may experience sleep inertia.
• Shift work. People who work hours significantly outside the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift are more likely to struggle with sleep inertia.
• Specific medications and substances. People who use antihistamines, opioids, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines or alcohol are more prone to sleep inertia.
• Certain health conditions. Depression, bipolar disorder, obstructive sleep apnea and certain other health conditions increase the likelihood of experiencing sleep inertia.

It’s easiest to address this condition if you can identify your sleep inertia causes.

How Long Does Sleep Inertia Last?

The duration of sleep inertia varies from person to person and even from episode to episode. However, it typically lasts between 15 and 60 minutes. Sometimes, like when someone is especially sleep-deprived, it can last even longer.

How To Get Rid of Sleep Inertia

An occasional episode of sleep inertia typically isn’t anything to be concerned about. However, if you experience the condition regularly, knowing how to stop a sleep inertia episode is helpful. Here are some actions that can help:

Light Exposure

Exposure to bright light soon after waking can help reduce sleep inertia symptoms. Decreasing your exposure to bright light (like from screens) in the evening can help you fall asleep faster, reducing your risk of an episode the next day.

Caffeine Use

Caffeine from coffee or another source in the morning can help shorten a sleep inertia episode. However, too much caffeine during the day can adversely affect your sleep, worsening your sleep inertia problem, so try to get the minimal amount necessary to overcome your inertia.

Napping

Naps can be an effective way to fit more sleep into your schedule and reduce your risk of sleep inertia. Just be sure to limit naps to 30 minutes, as longer sessions can make it difficult to fall asleep at bedtime.

Aligning Sleep With Natural Cycles

If you have a flexible schedule, sleeping when your body is tired and needing rest is helpful. Aligning with your body’s circadian rhythm may help reduce or prevent sleep inertia symptoms.

Other Tips

Other ways to combat sleep inertia include washing your face when you wake up, getting some light physical activity and eating a healthy breakfast. Those actions help your body understand that it’s time to be fully awake and alert. Performing them regularly can help train your body to shift more effectively from sleep to wakefulness.

How To Prevent Sleep Inertia

If you’re looking to prevent sleep inertia, it’s essential to practice good “sleep hygiene.” Doing so helps you get more restful sleep and reduces your risk of experiencing sleep inertia.

This includes having a good-quality mattress and bedding, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends), ensuring your bedroom is comfortably cool, dark and quiet, exercising regularly (just not too close to bedtime) and resisting the urge to hit the snooze button. It can also be helpful to use an alarm clock that wakes you gently with sound that starts quietly and increases in volume gradually.

When Is Sleep Inertia More Serious?

Sleep inertia isn’t technically a medical problem, but its symptoms can be dangerous, increasing the risk of accidents that can affect you and others. So, if the intensity or duration of your symptoms (like sleep inertia lasting all day) is concerning, you should talk with your doctor. They can perform a physical exam and order tests to determine what’s causing your condition.

Why Choose Baptist Health for Sleep Medicine Services?

Sleep issues—from difficulty falling asleep to morning inertia—can disrupt daily life. Baptist Health sleep centers use specialized technology and modern methods to gather data that guides our approach to managing sleep disorders.

If you struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or achieve full wakefulness in the morning, talk with your primary care doctor. They can refer you to one of our sleep centers if appropriate. Our online provider directory is helpful for finding a Baptist Health physician.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Sleep Care at Baptist Health
Sleep Cycles and Stages of Sleep
Is Stress Affecting My Sleep?
Quick Guide to Better Sleep