No, not in the mornings. I’ve actually already done that thread.
But today I’ve slept through the alarm clock and haven’t been able to wake up properly since. I don’t know if I’m the only person to get this but it’s like having just woken up all day, complete with fuzzy head, grumpiness and the feeling that if I closed my eyes I would go straight to sleep again.
I know what the cause is. Not tiredness but sleeping too much, as when I sleep through the alarm or when I lie in too long in the weekend. What I don’t know is how to deal with this when it has happened.
I’ve tried drinking countless cups of tea which is all I have access to by way of caffeine here. I also ended up pushing someone’s car in rain and windy weather (exercise, fresh air) which is all I can do here at the office. But I still feel like I can’t keep my eyes open.
Does anyone else get this and how does one get out of it once it happens?
Sounds like a rut, and yes it’s happened to me. I found that the best way to get out of it is to make changes to your daily routine. Plan early morning activities on weekends and set the alarm. Make it a habit of getting out of bed even when you don’t have to. A lie in is nice once in a while, but if it’s the norm, you’ll never get up to full speed. Exercise regularly, not just when someone’s car needs a push. For exercise to increase your energy, it needs to be regular. Find a particular time that you can schedule some kind of exercise at least 3 times a week - doesn’t even have to be strenuous. And lay off the tea - the caffeine does less to make you alert than the psychological act of drinking tea (which is why lots of people drink decaffeinated beverages). If you just have to have several cups each day, drink decaffeinated in the afternoon.
In short - look at your current routine. Find what can be changed and then make changes. The only difference between a rut and the grave is that you only have dirt on 3 sides.
For me the cause is more waking up roughly and suddenly - usually jerking awake to realize I either missed the alarm, or I’ve for some reason woken up two hours early thinking I’ve missed the alarm. Either way, for the rest of the day I’m sluggish, unfocused and tired.
I used to fix it by taking a 30 minute nap at lunch. Something like a reset, I guess - I got the chance to wake up smoothly, and I’d be fine after that. Of course, I’ve only had a handful of jobs where that was possible…
It’s good general advice but it’s not really what I meant. It’s not like I’m a bit tired all the time, but I’m just really sleepy as a one off - because I overslept.
I’m no exercise champion but of course I do more than push a car once and expect to be fit! Or hope that caffeine will give me energy just like that (I despise decaff anything but don’t have caffeine after three). I was just hoping these things would wake me up today as I accidentally overslept and now can’t seem to wake up properly. It’s like my system is stuck in sleep mode and then has trouble going into wake mode. This only happens about once every two months not everyday. Normally I feel happy and energetic enough.
(On preview, TellmeI’mNotCrazy describes it exactly. And it’s pretty much what happened. Slept through the alarm, woke up in shock and had to jump and rush out of bed. Wish I could try your solution but can’t really do that at the office sadly. But good to know and I will give it a go should it happen again on a day off.)
Gotcha…I read your OP as “this happens far too often.” It may be too little too late, but in that case I would try to get in a cat nap. When I’m having that kind of day I will sometimes eat a quick bite for lunch and then take a 15 - 30 minute nap in the car. Doesn’t make the feeling go away entirely, but it does refresh me and get me through the afternoon.
