Weak and tired by midday now that I sleep in the van

[debit.servus]

I put in my parents house mattress (a real mattress) into the van on a temporary bed platform. The first night with the mattress in the van, I slept the most lucidly and astrally; after two and a half months sleeping on the old back seat/bed with camping pads. Now I wake up, feel like I can take on the day. By noon, I become so weak & tired; then today strangely I am wide awake at 11:55 PM when I need to sleep for tomorrow. My sleep habits are usually fall asleep past midnight, then wake up at 9 AM or so. I drink decaf homemade iced tea, I've cut back on the soda tremendously. I don't do caffeine, but I do get a hit of that COCA-COLAINE sometimes (COCA COLA is Like Coke the powerful street-drug). Before the van life I woke up tired and groggy after a full nights sleep, Fully feeling awake past 3 PM. Now my energy dips mid-day and peaks at 6 PM. Why is this happening? I also have the feeling I am not getting 99% sleep quality, probably due to the amount of oxygen I breathe in the night inside the van. It's more like 80% sleep quality by personal estimate. Tonight I'll crack open the rear side window and see how it helps. Also I've been using an electric heater plugged into my parents house via an extension cord which I've found my equilibrium temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[Blue]

hey to address that... in my 35 ft RV though I had a great bed, I kind of went through that weird sleeping hours at first as well... I think its just something you have to get adjusted to. It might be you have some psych issues going on (far from home, lonely, money issues, etc) or maybe just getting farther and farther away from the familiar can wear on you. maybe the issue is air quality, but that wasnt the issue for me, it really was just getting adjusted to a different kind of life.

 

[Stargazer]

Sleep apnea? Diabetes? Hypoglycemia? Thyroid? Medications you may be taking? Dietary? Heart problems? I would rule out physical issues first. Air quality is one, you're working on that. It could be coincidence that it seemed to start when you moved into the van, which may have nothing to do with it.

If it continues more than a week or two, seriously consider a doctor's visit if at all possible.

 

[offroad]

Having some apnea and using a cpap myself. Start doing research on apnea. Many have it and don't realize it. If you get just 20 pounds overweight you can get it. And yes make sure you have adequate ventilation of air. Fresh exchange is required.

---

I wake up at 3am but go back to sleep an hour later if not using cpap. With cpap I sleep straight through eight hours.

And it's okay to take an afternoon nap.

 

[Zil]

Coke Cola is lots of caffeine. Also computer light is bad to get to sleep. Try turning it off a couple hours before sleep. And get used to all the new sounds and stuff of sleeping in a van.

 

[MrNoodly]

My sleep routine is all over the place. One of the luxuries of being retired, though, is that I can sleep whenever I want/need to.

 

[offroad]

Yes turn off the cellphone screen. And use ear plugs or noise canceling headphones. You need really good sleep.

 

[Trekking]

Sleep apnea? Diabetes? Hypoglycemia? Thyroid? Medications you may be taking? Dietary? Heart problems? I would rule out physical issues first. Air quality is one, you're working on that. It could be coincidence that it seemed to start when you moved into the van, which may have nothing to do with it.

If it continues more than a week or two, seriously consider a doctor's visit if at all possible.

Could be lack of oxygen, Having sleep apnea can cause you not to get a good nite sleep.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

Before you start worrying about whether it's a health issue, here's my suggestions:

Check your bed. Can you stretch out flat, including your pillows, without sleeping at an angle? Regardless of how comfy it might feel, is it giving your body the proper support it needs?

Proper pillows can make a world of difference.

Bed coverings, are these the same that you were comfortable with before?

Your night time clothing, same or different?

Heating, a lot of times a persons daytime vs. sleeping temperature are different.

I don't know what kind of a rig you have, but some people are more cut out to be cave dwellers than others. I require a window van with no curtains to be totally comfortable.

Don't take naps.

Just before bed time, turn on some favorite soft music, turn off all the lights, computers, phones, etc. and spend a little time just clearing your mind of everything but the soothing music. Leave the soothing music playing as you crawl into bed. You can turn it off if you feel yourself dosing off, but if you fall asleep with it playing, that's okay too. The music will help clear your mind from the days troubles, or those future plans that keep running through your head. Thoughts running through your head can not only keep you awake, they can interfere with a good nights sleep even after you have fallen asleep.

If you're susceptible to noise disturbing your sleep, sometimes that radio playing softly all night can solve that problem too.

Hope these help...

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Terry]

If you have noise screaming in your head, the soft, familiar music will help to keep the noise from driving you/me batty too.

 

[crazy_dave]

Can’t comment on the vehicle part but……………………I’ve found even changing the direction I sleep can screw me up till I’m use to it. I had a G/F that liked to change the bedroom around frequently. One day Id be sleeping North the next it would be South. I had to put a stop to it because I just couldn’t get adjusted that fast enough.

 

[HWJ]

I agree that sleep apnea is the likely cause. Could be something like your head oriented badly, despite being being comfy.
Sleep study is the easiest way to figure out if you need a machine.

 

[Belinda2]

Debit,
This street drug is a derivative of cocaine and is an amphetamine. As a result, after your high you will feel tired, irritable, frustrated, and have anxiety and paranoia. You can literally not sleep for 2-3 days. When the body finally excretes it, you will automatically be able to sleep again.

 

[stude53]

With the life changes you are going through, you may have trouble turning off the continuous mind processing of things to do.

If I wake in the night or just can't get to sleep, I keep a pen and pad next to my bed, so I can write down those repetitive thoughts or to-do items that are keeping my mind churning. Once recorded, I know I won't forget, and I can relax and go to sleep.

Might work for you, too.

Bob

 

[Patrick46]

With the life changes you are going through, you may have trouble turning off the continuous mind processing of things to do.

If I wake in the night or just can't get to sleep, I keep a pen and pad next to my bed, so I can write down those repetitive thoughts or to-do items that are keeping my mind churning. Once recorded, I know I won't forget, and I can relax and go to sleep.

Might work for you, too.

Bob

that's great advice!! ^^^

 

[Kevin H]

How has your diet changed? Carbohydrates = sugar. Sugar highs are followed by lows that leave you lethargic. If you are eating a lot of carbs, try cutting back and adding more meat or fat. Fat is more time released energy.

If you cannot sleep - spend some of the wake time researching all the other suggestions as well as good eating habits.

Reading all the research on this stuff will guarantee a good night's sleep!!!