A few years ago, I was retired medically (administratively, not voluntarily). I’ve been working the last 40 years in highly physical and mentally challenging jobs, so it was a step back to retire young. No regrets, I was ready to (read: needed to, but couldn’t see that the way the doctors did) put that baggage down and walk away.
Between the wife working+pension and my various pensions and compensations, I don’t really need to work, so I don’t (wife is semi-retired, ten years younger than me).
I’m late 50’s and I fill my days with whatever I want to do. But lately, I’m finding I need a couple naps a day.
About mid morning I’ll lie down with the dogs and nap anout 30 mins to an hour. Thats how it started and now its another nap mid afternoon.
I’m not sure if I’m bored or just slowing down as the years accumulate. I could push through and not nap, but I figure whats the point? I’m retired, nap if you want to.
That theres been sone recent studies showing a nap or two a day is good for brain health has just given me another reason to nap, or maybe “justify” napping might be more accurate.
Blood work is all good, so its not a medical reason. At least not a medical deficiency.
Anyone else find themselves napping more lately? Any idea why?
PS: I’ve never had covid, so its not “long covid”…
I have made it no secret that I lost my job back in February. Start a new one two weeks from today so I'm a little concerned because I've been sleeping weird and napping a couple times a day. Always need the naps in the morning. After 4 or so I am fine. Wide awake.
When I was working I still needed a refresher nap when I got home but that wasn't uncommon. I would go through cycles where I might be (falling asleep at the wheel) tired going home every night and then a quick nap and I'm good to go. That's been my history for my entire adult life. It seems to be more prevalent in the summer as it gets nice outside.
About 10 years ago a friend of mine told me she had a weird sleeping disorder. Didn't matter how tired she was all day. when it was time to sleep she couldn't go to sleep. Then after getting about 3 hours of sleep she'd be wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep again and had to take naps. Tried all sorts of meds and nothing actually fixed the problem. About 4 months later I developed the exact same sleeping pattern. (BTW, this is the same thing that Michael Jackson struggled with which is why he was sedated each night).
I'm wondering if it's a virus that's not easily transmittable that damages the brain? My friend and I both suffer this issue still, to this day. We don't live close to each other so it's probably not day to day stuff that's common.
BTW, I'm about the same age as you.
I love a good nap as much as the next person. I'm a few years older than you. Over a year and half ago I was always tired and felt like crap. Went in for a doctor's visit, had blood work done. Nothing interesting showed up so more blood work to check for things they didn't check the first time??? Nothing showed again. Reinforced my love for going in. This winter I got really sick, turned out my gallbladder sprung a leak or two. After getting it removed I've felt better than I have in years with more energy and less napping.
Not saying that is your problem, just don't count on no underlying issues. Hopefully you don't have any, just be careful.
Had my GB out a few years ago. That was definitely not related. My sleep patterns haven't changed.
I'm 68 and still at the one-nap stage. When it gets to two just cover me with soil and gravelly bits
Although I'm not 68, I'd be covered with soil by now.
do you have sleep apnea? I was napping, and found out I needed a cpap machine. I still nap occasionally, I blame it on boredom at times. Sometimes, I am still just tired. When I am really into a project, I'm good, but like today, having a tough time.. trying to get into a project, but then I find I am trying to avoid it.
My doctor does think I have apnea. It's quite a possibility. Insurance, for whatever reason, doesn't like to pay for sleep studies. I'm also not excited about CPAP machines. I don't know why insurance companies can't embrace more methods of controlling apnea. I'd gladly get the surgery to remove the flappy bits even though it comes with a risk of loss of smell (I would hate to lose my sense of smell but would hate to lose my life more).
FWIW, I did have a small respite from the insomnia issues when I was going through heart failure and didn't know it. I thought my insomnia problems were gone and was kind of happy about it. I wasn't as mentally tired all day but, physically, I was wiped out.
Now when I wake up after a few hours of sleep I feel my heart beating more than anything else. It's not like I was struggling. It's just beating as if I just walked up a single flight of stairs. And ALWAYS has a dream right before I wake up. The dream always seems to have some physical activity. Nothing too strenuous but some activity. They're usually good dreams.
I have taken Melatonin, muscle relaxers and a sleep med (that turns out is an antidepressant) and the best I can do is to rotate them as I adapt pretty quick.
I don't want to take the antidepressant as messing with my brain chemistry, beyond sleep alone, isn't something I do.
It's nice to know my sleep issues aren't all that unique.
Getting old sucks. I'm not doing it again.
