Sleeping 8+ hours and still feeling sleepy, especially worse around 3-4pm

Wondering anyone might have a similar situation and could share any tips/advice?

I’m 41 male, no problem falling asleep but after getting 8+ (even 9 or 10 hours) of sleep I’d still feel tired/sleepy when I wake up. I usually sleep between 11:30pm-1:00am (usually on the earlier end) and wake at 8 or 9am, sometimes even close to 10am. When i wake up, I still feel tired/sleepy and can probably go back to sleep but I try not to. I’ll carry out my day as usual, but by 3 to 4pm I’d be extremely sleepy. I’d avoid going to sleep as I don’t like to have that habit, but even when I do take a nap (usually around 30min) I’d still wake up feeling very tired and cranky. I think 4 or 5 nights of 7, I’d be able to sleep through the night but the other nights I might wake at 5 or 6 to go to the bathroom, but can usually fall back asleep after.

I think my diet is pretty healthy, minimal processed foods and avoids sugar, and generally eat every 3 hours starting from 9am. I exercise regularly, alternating between gym weight training and jog about 5km.

I’ve had sleep test done before and diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I do have a thing that’s similar to a nightguard that pushes my lower jaw forward to reduce snoring, but I don’t think it works. My BMI is 21.5.

I’ve tried magnesium glycinate, magnesium skin spray, and melatonin but none of them helps. Also tried pre-sleep stretching and also meditating which didn’t help.

I’m currently not working so I don’t have much work stress, but obviously there are other common stresses.

Any advice or comments on how to improve my sleep and energy level would be greatly appreciated!

And that diet consists of what?

It’s insightful to see others thinking deeply about their sleep. I had similar issues and found that sometimes the problem isn’t internal but external. My mattress was the culprit; too hard, causing me sciatica and severe back pain. I switched to Frido’s mattress topper based on research and noticed improvements in my sleep quality and duration within 15 days. Tracking with my Samsung watch, my REM and deep sleep phases enhanced significantly. Maybe consider reviewing your mattress setup, especially with sleep apnea in play. A new topper or mattress could make a significant difference.

Do you drink coffee?

Get your blood work checked for micronutrient deficiency (iron, B12, vit D) and thyroid.

Consider consulting a sleep specialist, particularly one who deals with neurological sleep disorders. This could be hypersomnolence and needs professional evaluation.

Could be a post lunch dip? What’s the protein/sugar content of your typical lunch? I experience a severe dip around 3pm too but have noticed it’s less severe if my lunch is lighter.

Look into a CPAP machine to help with sleep apnea.

Have yourself checked to rule out conditions like lupus. It’s always good to cover all bases. Good luck.