Sleeping in your chair

I have always seemed to need more sleep than my contempories. I can remember (just) that as a youngster (16-25), friends and work colleagues seemed able to go through an all-niter and still be able to work the following day. I could not, needed a few hours sleep. Could fall asleep anywhere, once on a much delayed train journey from Yugoslavia in a crowded carriage (two long seats, people facing each other with legs up on opposite seats as they tried to doze ), I comfortably fell deeply asleep on the floor under the legs of everyone there.

During most of my adult years this sleep was controlled, By the time I was 50 needed a power nap most days, but found I could settle down in an armchair and would always wake up, refreshed 25 minutes later.

Now I am well into my 80,'s the amount of sleep I need is daft, seems as if I am using most of the time I have left being asleep. I need, and cannot fight this need to sleep after every meal - however light it is. So, after brekkie will fall asleep for up to an hour in recliner chair, after lunch similar but often a longer period, and even after tea need at least 30 - 45 minutes. I can have tv on plus be doing a puzzle, but will still fall asleep, pen in hand,.

Still get about ten hours sleep in bed at night (albeit with at least two bathroom visits.)

It is annoying that I cannot get through a whole day with those sleeps, makes social arrangement difficult. I have tried to talk to GP about this for last couple of years, as it seems daft to me that I am now sleeping for more than 50% of each 24 hours and am not doing anything strenuous or tiring when I am awake. GP just ignores it or tell me it is due to my age I thought older people needed less sleep as they do less when awake).

I anyone knows of any legal 'uppers' I would love to know what they are

If I have a cold or cough, I always sleep in my reclining chair, tilted just far enough back that I'm not totally flat. This definitely helps.

Sleeping slightly back in a recliner once saved my life. I developed (hindsight) food poisoning after a rare solo meal out and almost blacked out in my kitchen, I crawled to my sofa and lay down. When I felt able, I crawled to my leather recliner and tilted it back just a little bit

I must have blacked out, when I woke I had vomit all down my front. Laying down I could have died. Recliners are safer than beds sometimes

I do still doze in mine from time to time, usually when I have it in the zero gravity position. If I feel very tired after 7pm, I go and do some tidying and sink-cleaning in the kitchen. Often that wakes me enough to have another hour in my living room. Next stage is bed at 9+pm, I lay down with the radio on, often it is 9.30 by then and I never hear the programme cut off via the timer

I would never be without my recliner/zero gravity chair and would always give in to a nap before 4pm, especially if I have been short of sleep or tired due to working on my allotment

I find it difficult to drop off to sleep when I go to bed however when I’m quite comfortably on the sofa watching TV, I can find myself nodding off and like you miss the end of the TV program yet I’m sat up right (well, maybe a little slumped)I really don’t understand it at all 🤷‍♀️

I almost invariably have 'forty winks' in late afternoon/early evening. It seems to run in the family. My younger son can drop off at any time. Only problem is that he snores. I don't, or at least nobody has told me if I do.

I wouldn't mind a power nap, but I go right off into long, deep sleep, and don't know what's hit me when I wake.
I also dribble.

I am reassured that I am not the only one.
Frankly it alarms me that I could “Kip on a clothes line” especially in the afternoon or after a meal.
Reading also seems to send me off and I can’t say how often I have woken up around 1.30 am, my iPad having slipped to the floor. Sometimes I feel I need to “get a life “ then I think of Winston Churchill and his power naps .
As long as I don’t do it in public!

MissAdventure

I wouldn't mind a power nap, but I go right off into long, deep sleep, and don't know what's hit me when I wake.
I also dribble.

😂

I once went to sleep on a plane and woke to find I had drooled all down the sleeve of the (sleeping) stranger next me😳

My husband often falls asleep in his recliner. If he puts his heated throw over his legs, I can practically guarantee he'll be asleep in ten minutes.

😳

My DH is the same he falls asleep within minutes of his head hitting the pillow, whilst I’m tossing and turning, getting up to listen to music. I’m lucky if I sleep for 5/6 hours a night.

My mother would tell me that “I could sleep the clock round” even as a baby. Anyone else heard that phrase?

I think it is a man thing. My DH sleeps for hours and hours to the point where I worry that there is something not right with him.

I agree that dropping off in a chair or straight away once in bed is a man thing

Can anyone tell me a sure-fire way to drop off at night, apart from changing my gender?

MissAdventure

I wouldn't mind a power nap, but I go right off into long, deep sleep, and don't know what's hit me when I wake.
I also dribble.

I set my phone alarm for 45 minutes max, or I’d go into a really deep sleep, too, and wake feeling groggy. I never sleep well at night, whether I’ve had a zizz on the sofa or not.

MissAdventure

I wouldn't mind a power nap, but I go right off into long, deep sleep, and don't know what's hit me when I wake.
I also dribble.

I love you, MissAdventure! You never fail to cheer me up! I have been at the hospital this morning having a scan to see if my cancer tumours have spread. I wasn’t feeling very happy, and obviously I am worried about what is happening to me.
Then I came on here and saw what you had written and instantly felt happier. Thank you!

Get yourself checked for sleep apnea.
It means you don't get a sufficient quantity of deep sleep which leads to day time naps.

My parents, nor myself, were like this, but my late DH and his parents were. One evening, in the early 70’s, the in-laws came to visit. We had no tv then, but by 9.00pm, all three were asleep. My mother said that I should have switched the light off, and gone to bed. They might have been there for some time!! Maybe I was very boring!

You lucky sleepers 💤 - I get about 7 hours sleep per night and that’s with some help. I’m not worrying about it - I’m probably one of those people that don’t need much sleep. That’s what I tell myself. And I am quite alert during the day .

My late DH was able to fall asleep anywhere and slept all night but was an early riser. Did mean I would get a cup of tea in bed!
Having done years of night duty I can drop off easily during the day, why oh why do I not sleep at night!

My hubby is 69 and is the same. However he hardly ever sits in a chair preferring to half lie on the sofa. He falls asleep at the drop of a hat, especially after putting on a film, that I don't particularly want to see lol He can sleep there for a couple of hours, then by the time I come out of the bathroom at night he's already snoring

It's really annoying to be in the middle of a programme then start dropping off to sleep. Next thing I know I wake up with a start wonde