Long ago in my other work life, I would often get home before 5 and I would occasionally squeeze in a little nap (20-30 minutes) before dinner. I liked it, but it made it hard to go to bed at night. In a weird way, I’m glad that there’s no temptation like that now.
Except on weekends. Oh…… the weekend nap. How I love and also hate it.
I need a LOT of time to prepare for a weekend nap. If we have something going on at 5:30, I’m stressed out because that is not enough time to have lunch, mess around on the computer, then putz around until I’m sleepy. Sure, I’d be up before 5, but the pressure of finishing the nap is too much.
On to the actual nap. I usually sleep on the regular couch or the fainting couch, and it can be anywhere from 1 – 2 hours. During this nap I have the same stupid dream the whole time, several times. The basic theme is:
I am asleep.
I wake up
I try to get up.
I can’t.
People are in the house.
That’s it. Over and over and over and over. I’m awake, but struggling to get up. My arms barely move or I can only flutter one eye, and I just know that the people in the house are wondering what is wrong with me. Then I realize that I’m still napping and calm down. Then I ‘wake up’ and try to get up, etc. etc. etc.
It’s bothersome, but not enough to make me give up that nap.
Brad says
Are you describing sleep paralysis, or is it different that what I’m reading about when I google that term?
I think that has only happened to me a couple of times. My naps are more like passing out than they are like comas.
Lauren says
No, I think mine is different, because it’s all dream. When I’m ‘awake’, I’m still sleeping.
Kristi says
A 2-hour nap? Oh, how I envy you. That would be lovely.
Peggy says
Ugh! That is a horrible dream to have while napping. Maybe you could play some music or pop a DVD in the TV that might influence a different dream.
Your dream reminds me of when I dream I’m at work, working away….then wake up & have to go to work. What the heck? I just got done working!
Curt says
I have a similar recurring dream where I get up from sleeping and it feels like I am walking in molasses. It is a very tiring dream. When I actually wake up, I am sweating and feel like I need another nap.