Evening Naps and Insomnia-Filled Nights

Lately, I have been caught in the middle of a vicious cycle. Napping has never been my thing. In fact, I spend an inordinate amount of time staying busy from the time I wake until it's time to call it a day and head to bed. Even my weekends are filled with running errands, yard work, and trying to stay ahead with lesson plans.

Naps have never been on my agenda. They still aren't. But they have managed to weasel their way into my evenings, and it's really starting to take a toll on me.

After-supper slow-down

Typically, I find myself running hard until about 8 o'clock each evening. I tutor 2 days a week after school, and on my off days, I catch up with chores around the house. If I am settled before then, it's almost a miracle.

Over the last few months, I have picked up on some not-so-subtle signals from my body. If I sit down for any length of time following work and supper, I am hit with drowsiness – hard. My eyes want to close, and most of the time, they win out. I catch myself inadvertently slipping into nap mode before I know what’s happening.

Before I know it, I've lost 20 to 30 minutes of my evening. This may not seem like a big deal, but I have quickly come to understand what this means for my insomnia.

Is it more than a nap?

Quite frankly, that sleepy feeling that hits me after supper is a strong one. It's so strong I have started wondering if it's more than a nap. Blood sugar levels have never been a problem for me, but my pattern is becoming quite regular – eat, sit, nap.

It's worth noting that the bigger the meal, the more quickly the drowsiness strikes. I am definitely taking note and plan to bring up this new and frustrating pattern when I discuss my insomnia with my doctor at my next physical.

Nap now, pay later

This half-hour nap should give me a sense of relief. If I am being completely truthful, I do feel better after I have rested. I mean, it stands to reason, right? The problem arises when I settle for the night a couple of hours later. By the time I shower and climb into bed, the sleepy feeling has passed. Actually, it's more than passed. It’s fled completely; I am >wide awake for the long haul.

Assuredly, I am doing something backward. I know I should be showering earlier and not allowing myself to sit down and be idle until all my odd jobs are done around the house, but life gets in the way. I can always think of at least 6 more things I have left off my to-do list. Giving in for those 20 to 30 minutes and sleeping on the couch is both the easiest and most difficult decision of my day.

Restructuring my evenings

I am sure that even as I write this, I will find myself lying awake at midnight tonight, cursing the nap from a few hours earlier. Until I figure this out, I am going to have to restructure my evenings. That is painfully clear. A half an hour should not be capable of stealing a night's worth of rest, now should it?

Do you find yourself napping too close to bedtime? Has it negatively impacted your sleep patterns? Share with us in the comments below.