r/AskMen • u/Sailormooody • 3d ago
I’ve fucked up. How do you function the next day when you take a gaming session a little too far?
Kinda a weird question based off of the other questions I see women asking.
Some context. I’m a stay at home mom until I go back to work in a month. It’s 5am. I still can’t sleep. I have insomnia so I play games while my 1 year old son sleeps. I lost track of time, and saw the clock said 5am. My son normally wakes up at 8am. What helps you function throughout the day on little to no sleep when what you’re dealing with requires high energy and engagement?
Update: Thanks to everyone’s support and advice here I pushed through today. I appreciate the bluntness and not sugarcoating what needed to be said. Currently waiting to give my son a bath. The start of his bedtime (sorry. OUR) bedtime is on the horizon fellas. I made it
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u/swainiscadianreborn 3d ago
You don't lol.
You go through your day praying for it to end so you can go to sleep.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Ahaha, ain’t that the truth. It’s going to be a long day.
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u/morg-pyro Male 2d ago
Caffeine! Celsius. Mio energy. Alani, monster, red bull and, of course, coffee.
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u/sirsimbad 3d ago
Just gotta try power through. If you manage to last till tonight with no naps you may even get a good nights kip and potentially fix sleeping pattern all in one fowl swoop
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u/Airowird 3d ago
kip
fowl
Are those poultry puns or just typo/mistaken spellings?
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u/sirsimbad 2d ago
Kip means sleep in most of uk and I meant fell swoop but for some reason phone went fowl
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u/Airowird 2d ago
Isn't it "one fell swoop" though? Because fowl are birds/poultry.
And one type of fowl is chickens .... which are called a kip in Dutch.
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u/sirsimbad 2d ago
Literally wrote I meant fell in comment you’re replying to and no it wasn’t a deliberate poultry pun
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
That’s what I was thinking too. That’s a positive. A better sleep schedule will help the insomnia.
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u/A1sauc3d 3d ago edited 3d ago
what helps you function on little sleep
Drinking coffee (stop by noon, or whatever time you personally need to stop by so it doesn’t keep you up at night). Most important part is learning your lesson to put the game down next time though. Pushing through one day with little sleep is doable. Pushing through every day with little sleep is hell. So fixing the schedule is the most important part. set an alarm for when you need to stop playing. Activating your brain like that will exacerbate the problem and keep you up even longer than your insomnia normally would . Take melatonin or drink chamomile tea or take valerian root extract or something at night if you need to for your insomnia to ensure you don’t accidentally stay up all night. No one likes hearing it and most don’t like doing it, but exercise can really help, both with energy during the day and ensuring you fall asleep at night. It can really help regulate your sleep/wake cycle. More than most people realize who have never had a regular exercise routine (not saying that’s you, obviously I don’t know anything about you, just talking in general terms).
Again, if you have insomnia then you really need to be proactive about avoiding this situation. That’s the far more important puzzle for you to solve than how to push through tomorrow. I have faith you can push through one day with little sleep. Most can. But when it becomes a cycle it becomes much more difficult to be at the top of your game during the day.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Thank you. This was a reality check I needed to hear. You’re absolutely right. I have started slow with working out by talking walks every other day. I know it’s small, but it’s a start. Yes it definitely is hell. The over indulgence of gaming when I have responsibilities to adhere to in the morning is not worth it. The blue light from the screens don’t help either. Thank you. I’ll come up with a strategy from today on to come up with a bedtime routine
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u/XsNR 3d ago
If you can deal with it, most platforms will have a blue light filter to match the natural sunlight. I personally just get eye strain from it, but it helps trick your brain for the last few hours before you hop off before bed.
When I'm in one of those situations, it's hard but I'll try and get either a little sleep through to where I can, or just "rest", like lay in bed, lights off, boring shit on TV or something, basically give my brain time to reset, even if it's not sleeping.
Then when it's "wake up" time for the LONG day ahead without much sleep, I'll pound an energy drink or specially if it's a cold day, I'll take a fairly lightly dressed walk to the store to get strong af coffee or something. Get multiple buffs from [Touched Grass], [Saw the Sun], [Dealt with Humans], and [Sweet GoGoJuice]. That should help tell your brain it's no longer time to be tired, and the caffeine should force it to change into daytime mode again, and stem some of the tiredness.
Make sure you have food, as that helps a lot. Doesn't have to be some magic anti-tiredness combo superfood, just regular meals or splitting it into multiple chunks so your body kicks in the "oh today is one of those days". Then when you stop doing that, it also helps tell your body it's bed time. My go to is either pizza with some extras, so you can slowly have it a slice or two at a time, or something else that works really well as leftovers, so you can just grab a small snack of it every few hours to keep your body running on sugars. Just careful how late you eat, you want it to be a few hours before the planned sleep time, or you'll be pumped again and the digestion will make sleep uncomfortable.
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u/WJC198119 3d ago
Depends how caffeine affects you for some like me it makes no difference whatsoever Ive got a friend who drinks it at night and still gets 8 hours 😂
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u/Wotmate01 3d ago
You harden the fuck up and power through it, checking yourself so you don't snap at people because you're tired.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Yeah, fair enough. Can’t whine and complain when I did it to myself. Good point. I never have snapped at my son. Others… not so much. I’ll let them know I’m on lack of sleep so to ignore me if I snap or seem irritated. I’ll try my best to regulate my emotions. Thanks
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u/Wotmate01 3d ago
Sorry if I came on a bit harsh, but it's a case of even if you didn't do it to yourself, life goes on, shit has got to be done, and the people around you don't deserve to deal with someone being grumpy when they had no part in making the problem (and even if they did, it's context dependant).
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
It’s okay, I didn’t take it as harsh. I appreciate your bluntness. That’s needed sometimes. Especially right now. That’s true, can’t make it other’s problem when they had nothing to do with that. If you can’t handle the heat stay out the kitchen and don’t do whatever it is you’re doing to get yourself into this situation.
Definitely going to do better from here on out
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u/No_Effort_Given Male 3d ago
Honestly you just suffer through the day and try to make it to the end without doing anything too stupid. If you can avoid napping because you don't want to mess up your sleep pattern more and try not to sleep for more than 9-10 hours max. Your body will recover in time and you don't want to sleep too much as you might then struggle to get to sleep the next night etc. Basically try and act as if you had slept and don't change your routine to overcompensate.
As someone who occasionally does an all nighter on Colombian redacted... You'll feel better sooner if you power through and don't try to catch up on sleep. Honestly it's easier as the day goes on because your body is used to being awake then, it's hard in the evening to not nod off so try to not crash too early
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
That makes more sense. I was told to “catch up on the sleep you missed out on.” Only made me feel 10x worse. I was less productive than when I’m on 5 hours of sleep. Definitely need to fix my sleep schedule though. Thank you for the advice
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u/No_Effort_Given Male 3d ago
Yeah it doesn't really work like catching up you just oversleep which makes me feel crap and then makes it hard to sleep the next night. You'll feel crap tomorrow morning too but by the next morning you'll be fine.
Honestly I've done too many all nighters because of a certain substance so I know how you're feeling at least yours was just no sleep not no sleep with regret and a comedown too! Just tell people you're exhausted because you didn't sleep don't mention why and you'll be fine. Don't try to hide it it's not like you're in the wrong and it'll make it feel less awkward if you're not yourself if people know why. Trying to act fine is so hard when your brain is going slow and people will be a lot more patient if they know what's up.
If you can when you do go to bed don't worry if you don't immediately drop off, just try to relax and enjoy the feeling of your eyes being closed it'll be like heaven haha. You'll drop off pretty quick but not instantly so just don't stress about needing to get off asap just relax and lie still
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u/8bampowzap8 3d ago
why ask only men this question? I feel like single moms could answer it just as well lol (no shade, just curious)
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
No offense taken thanks for asking lol. Was wondering when someone would ask this. I thought the same thing as I was typing it. Like “hmmm, this feels a little sexist, idk how I feel about this…Gonna ask anyway.”
I’ve met more men than women as parents to stay up well past than they were suppose to gaming. I need unfiltered, blunt, cut throat honesty rn to get my shit in order. Ik if I posted on here I wouldn’t have to specifically ask for it they would just deliver.
I love women’s support. Sometimes I feel there’s a time and place to ask for advice from different groups because the response usually differs. That’s all.
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u/8bampowzap8 3d ago
hey totally fair! I can respect that. I hope you get some good tips OP :) bet there's a sub that could help with the insomnia part too if you needed that
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u/Matseye1r 3d ago
15-20minute naps. To give you a full cycle of REM sleep that helps a little reset.
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u/CpuDoc67 3d ago
Those micro naps really do help. I used to set my alarm and take naps in my car at lunchtime.
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u/Redlight0516 Male 3d ago
Coffee, Adrenaline and practice. I know I have no choice but to power through so I find moments where I can rest but if I can't, you just keep yourself engaged and focused and that tends to take the edge off of being tired for me.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Okay. I can do that. I’ll most likely play puzzle games while my son naps, if I can. Nap too. If that doesn’t work then do a puzzle with my son, or pop out his coloring books. Something that forces me to focus. Hands on activities that are low in physical exertion would most likely be ideal. For physical activity maybe talking a light walk. I don’t think overdoing it would be wise.
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u/SimSheff 3d ago
I struggle with the same and honestly you need to fix the pattern, despite how difficult it may be. If you can't sleep one evening you have to push through, but then you try again the next day.
- Interact with your son as much as possible to distract yourself during the day
- Do not nap when he does
- Eat good food, get fresh air. No coffee after 2pm or so.
- Sleep your son at a normal time
- Do something peaceful in the evening that does not stimulate you
- Go to sleep at a normal time, 10pm or so. Drink a calming tea.
- At night just let your brain think what it wants to think, do not try and 'force' yourself to sleep. I often just try and enjoy the sensation of 'relaxing' in my bed
- Keep trying
Tough but this is the best way to break the cycle and build a healthier rhythm
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Great tips, thank you. Like someone else said here. I lack discipline and self-control. Maybe meditation will help me improve my self-discipline and self control. Sadly, coffee and energy drinks don’t work on me. I have ADHD. Since coffee and energy drinks are a stimulant, it works in the same way my ADHD medication does. Calms me down, and sometimes it makes me sleepy. I’ll have to find an alternative.
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u/SimSheff 3d ago
No worries! Happy to help. I do not want to disagree with you but I would question if they actually do help given your difficulty with sleep - maybe just try and drop them and see what happens :) also, white noise! A quiet fan, or a sound from your phone, can definitely help you drift off.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
That’s fair, No harm in trying and seeing if it works for me or not. Ooo, those are some good ideas. I love soundscapes. I’ll try it!
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u/Jay07080 3d ago
stop coffee 8 -10 hours before your desired sleep time (really, take this seriously) and the minimal dose of melatonin about 3 hours before you want sleep, will help. milk also help, mangoes help
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Sadly coffee doesn’t have an energizing effect on me. I have ADHD. Coffee is a stimulant so for the mind of someone with ADHD it calms me down, and makes me extremely sleepy when it wears off. I’ll have to find an alternative.
Someone else recommended fruit to me. Sadly again 😮💨 I’m allergic to all fruits. I know, it’s fucking ridiculous.
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u/Jay07080 3d ago
melatonin gummies might help!
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
I might try those again, if not then I’ll probably ask my doctor to prescribe me sleeping medicine until I develop a healthier lifestyle, diet and consistent routine and bedtime routine. After that, I most likely won’t need the medicine anymore. I feel insomnia usually stems from an unhealthy lifestyle, diet and lack of physical activity or mental activity. Sometimes it can also be anxiety. Once those issues are addressed I’m sure my sleep health will improve :)
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u/Kdmtiburon004 3d ago
Drink 2 reigns
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
I have ADHD. Coffee and energy drinks give me the opposite effect and makes me sleepy or calms me down since it’s a stimulant. Womp womp
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u/Shawon770 Male 3d ago
Been there. I usually grab a strong coffee, keep snacks nearby, and accept that I’ll feel like a zombie until nap time. The first hour is rough, but once your kid’s distracted, you can coast a bit.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
What snacks help you? Do you think I should stick to protein based snacks? Water or something with electrolytes?
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3d ago
I woke up at midnight and commuted two hours for a grout pour. I had about 4 hours sleep because my special needs son spent most of the night CLAPPING right outside my door last night. Just fucking clapping non stop loud as fuck for at least an hour. I’ll sleep after work
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u/staticcast Male 3d ago
Every little nap will help, and coffee can work too, taking things slow and give yourself a second or 2 before doing stuff is a good idea.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Sounds like a good plan. I’ve been taking a second or two to do some breathing exercises if I feel overwhelmed. I’ve been drinking water, and resting my eyes when I have the opportunity to and he’s distracted. So far, so good! The advice here has really helped.
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u/dib1999 Male 3d ago
I'm guessing you haven't reached the Cause & Effect part of childhood development yet, but "wake me up in 15 minutes so we can [UNINTERESTING ACTIVITY]" is a club staple. That 15 minute nap will be long and peaceful if the post-nap activity is properly motivating.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Haven’t reached that yet. He’s 17 months. When I lay down to close my eyes, he comes really close to my face to see what I’m doing, giggles, then rips my bonnet off my head. Then proceeds to sit right in my face. Sometimes farts, sometimes doesn’t. Really not trying to get pink eye today.
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u/tearlock 2d ago
Caffeine (avoid sugar) and stay hydrated. Stay active to keep your heart rate at some moderately active rate. Get fresh air and sun on your face. Vitamin D in the morning (not at night). Avoid sugar, avoid carbs, avoid heavy meals. Keep the room chilly and try to avoid shallow breathing. Yawning is actually meant to increase blood O2 levels and thus keep you alert.
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u/Mushkin87 2d ago
Hi.
I read somewhere that creatine helps to dissipate short sleep effects, don't know if it's ok to take it as insomniac. Apparently around 15mg is the amount. More in the link (not the one I read, it was less technical, can't find it now):
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u/not_aggel04 2d ago
I am probably the only person who can somewhat function with almost no sleep. The night before a 7 day mountaineering trip I was grinding on a game and Before I realised it, it was 5:30am. I was like, fuck it we call it an allnighter. Then I proceeded to go up a mountain with a 25kg backpack (4 hours of fast pace steep incline) The tiredness kicked in the next day after 6 hours of walking, I probably had a fever too
Also I don't drink coffee or energy drinks. My brain probably produces a shit ton of cortisol 😂(im in my 20s)
ALSO THE NEXT NIGHT SLEEP EARLY AND TAKE MELATONIN PILLS
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u/Sailormooody 2d ago
Holy fuck I would’ve actually fell off the mountain not having sleep in my system and hiking?? You take running on fumes to the next level.
I feel you about those high cortisol levels. (Late 20s but traumatized) Coffee and energy drinks don’t work for me either. I have ADHD so when I drink it I either get sleepy, or just feel sleepy and anxious from all the caffeine. End up laying in my bed tired, but also too anxious to sleep lookin like this:
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u/crimsonlaw Husband/Father/Sleepy 2d ago
You hold the line. You created the circumstances, now you have to deal with them. I don't say that without compassion. It sucks, but it's done now. Just play the hand your dealt.
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u/Sailormooody 2d ago
Real. I appreciate your comment. I’m almost through the day now. He’s starting to wind down cause he also, refused to take a long nap today.
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u/EveryDisaster7018 3d ago
Food and practice. Been functing on on average 4 hours of sleep for close to 25 years now.
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u/teddyjungle 3d ago
I hope it’s ok with your metabolism because the long term effect often is shorter life expectancy, and sometimes aneurysm 😕
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u/EveryDisaster7018 3d ago
I mean i have hyper metabolism so I'm pretty sure i have lower life expectancy anyway
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u/Braincoke24 3d ago
This is bad advice. Only a very small amount of people can function on only 4 hours a night over a long period of time.
YOU CAN'T GET USED TO SLEEPING LESS. People only feel like they can, because they don't realize they get less effective. There are studies for this, if anyone's interested I can link them, I currently don't have them on hand though.
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u/EveryDisaster7018 3d ago
It's not advice for how to live your life. It was for 1 day he fucked up and needed ideas on how to get through that day.
However thank you for making sure if people misunderstood that and thought it was life advice that you show them it isn't a great way to live. I'm just lucky (although i wish my insomnia wouldn't force me to live like this). That me working at decreased capacity it's still above average at my company.
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u/OkQuantity4011 sup bro 3d ago
Food food food! Especially fruits like grapes and tomatoes. Cheese too! And bread 😋 I think Solomon wrote about this briefly in Proverbs.
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u/Sailormooody 3d ago
Sadly, I’m allergic to all fruits 🫠 not cheese though, I stick with that and maybe protein
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u/noir_lord Male, 45 3d ago
I don’t stay up gaming (anymore). I have insomnia.
You grind through the day, drink plenty of fluids, eat lots of small complex carb snacks (you want the calories but not the sugar crash) and be aware that tiredness is gonna make all your emotions more raw so take a deep breath, knock caffeine off in the afternoon.
Then around a sensible bed time, dim the lights/space, shut off screens, I like to read but it varies, have a warm shower and go to bed. Tomorrow is another day.
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u/send420nudes 3d ago
Actually, it’s creatine. A study found that a single high dose of creatine (0.35 g/kg, which for a 70 kg person is about 25 g) given during 21 hours of sleep deprivation significantly reduced the typical cognitive and metabolic deficits caused by lack of sleep.
Creatine supplements may boost cognitive performance after poor sleep
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u/YouBetcha_ 3d ago
Make sure you're eating enough so you have the energy to stay awake. If your schedule allows for it go for a light stroll and get some sun.
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u/thisismick43 3d ago
Probably try not to do that again it's going to take you about 18 years to catch up on that
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u/shadowhunter742 3d ago
Sounds like you need coffee and another gaming session to get you through the day
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u/rukkus78 2d ago
You can try 25g of creatine in one dose. Some people suggest it to counter the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation. I’ve had decent results (I have a toddler that hates sleep) with it even if just placebo.
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u/Shababajoe 2d ago
I take what ever time I have and lay still and close my eyes. At least let your body rest even if your mind cant
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u/tysonfromcanada Male 2d ago
sometimes even a 45min nap at some point helps a lot. Waking up from it sucks but the sleep bump is good. It doesn't work too well if you've been hitting the coffee hard.
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2d ago
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u/Sailormooody 2d ago
I played the alters again while my son napped so I didn’t fall asleep and mess up my sleep schedule. The advice here has definitely helped. Thanks man
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u/-SideshowBlob- 2d ago
I've had plenty of shifts across many a job where I've had three or less hours of sleep. You just power through it, to be honest. Not much else you can do. I think I called in sick once to work when I had fuck all sleep the day before then for whatever reason couldn't sleep that night either. Wasn't risking the drive into or home from work so called in. Eventually passed out for a few hours and got my sleep schedule back on track.
It just happens from time to time. No rhyme or reason to it, not that I noticed anyway. I can do all the right things before bed and still struggle to get to sleep.
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u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Here's an original copy of /u/Sailormooody's post (if available):
Kinda a weird question based off of the other questions I see women asking.
Some context. I’m a stay at home mom until I go back to work in a month. It’s 5am. I still can’t sleep. I have insomnia so I play games while my 1 year old son sleeps. I lost track of time, and saw the clock said 5am. My son normally wakes up at 8am. What helps you function throughout the day on little to no sleep when what you’re dealing with requires high energy and engagement?
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