I get it, so I did a little web searching about the causes.
One train of thought is that lunch has a big influence. Too many carbs or an alcoholic drink can cause drowsiness, so there are tons of different diet tips to help prevent becoming sleepy.
Another reason is lack of enough sleep at night. That I can understand, but I usually get around 6-1/2 to 7 hours each night. Even with a lot of sleep, I still can get drowsy in the afternoon.
After the little research I made on the condition, I realized the suggestion of a nap was missing. Otherwise, doing what the body is demanding is not an option. I'm guessing this is due to the fact it's taboo in our society to sleep while at work. After all, just because every damn species besides humans will nap shouldn't be considered to be a sign that an afternoon nap is part of our genetic imprinting. We can't be so stupid as to think napping is healthy and necessary.
So, if you, too, get sleepy in the afternoon, don't worry. It's all part of being human, denial and gentics. Eat a good lunch, get enough sleep, avoid alcohol and ignore the feeling. We're too evolved to sleep when we're sleepy, unless it's when we're supposed to sleep.
I've never been a napper unless I'm deathly ill. However, I'm of the opinion that there are genetically programmed sleep cycles. Some of us, like me, are staunchly diurnal. As soon as the sun goes down, regardless of the actual time, I'm ready for bed. Once the sun is up, I'm ready to go. But back in our cave days, there was a biological imperative for some to be on different schedules to guard the "peeps" while the diurnals slept at night. And so you had some nocturnal people and then probably those who were in between so there was always someone awake to scare off the saber-toothed tigers and what not.
ReplyDeleteNow that we have what is primarily a day society, there is still the programming for some of us to sleep when the sun is up. It's hard to override that coding.
Just my theory. I have no facts to back this up, but I think it sounds good.
It makes sense to me. I go through phases during the day and night. Afternoon can bring drowsiness, but it disappears after about an hour. In the early evening, I can get really drowsy, but again, it leaves after about an hour. If I go to sleep too early, I'll awake between midnight and 2:00 am; charged up and ready to go.
ReplyDeleteI heard that Einstein was a "cat napper". He would go for hours, sleep for a few hours and repeat the cycle. Maybe I'm a genius? Nah. If I was, I'd be building a time machine.
I'm with Janie. I'm up with the sun, and ready for bed as soon as it sets. If I don't actually get into the bed at dusk, you can rest assured (no pun intended) that I will not accomplish anything useful after dark.
ReplyDeleteI've worked days, nights, evenings and multiple shifts, which led to staying awake for over 24 hours. I don't know if that's had any effect on my sleep, but if shifting sleeping habits causes such things, I'm definitely a victim of the changes.
ReplyDeleteI never nap and now, as I get older, I worry that if I do decide to give in to sleepiness and take a little nap my family will think there's something wrong with me.
ReplyDeleteI like to take a nap, but it's rare I get much of a nap if my wife is around. I snore, which wouldn't be so bad if it didn't sound like a truck with plastic trash can hung on the undercarriage. So, she wakes me and I have to go somewhere else, which ruins the entire nap episode.
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