Is this normal? Sleeping too much?

[Maddy McCall]

I finished two weeks of written and oral PhD comps this past Wednesday, which were preceded by six months of 12-hour study days. Three weeks before the exams, I studied day and night, only stopping to sleep to refresh my batteries, two or three hours at a time--maybe getting four hours of sleep per day.

Thursday, the day after I finished the oral exams, I was still so hyped that I couldn't sleep; plus, I had to teach a 101 university class, so I knew I shouldn't sleep for fear of sleeping through the alarm and missing the class.

But yesterday and today, all I have done is sleep. I slept from 4AM this morning until 7PM tonight. And right now, I could go back to sleep, but I am forcing myself to stay awake.

I feel like a lazy slob. Tell me that this is a normal reaction to a very stressful six months. Please tell me this is normal.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Sure it is.

And with the coda at the end, you have every reason to be exhausted.

Hope you did well.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Thanks!

I feel like I have fog in my head, though. I just want a clear mind back, and to rise with the roosters again. :-)

[n2mark]

2. This is so very normal

enoy your sleep, you deserve it! You are in melt down, that is okay. Now if this continues for a month-- I would begin to worry. Just give yourself time to unwind.

[Maddy McCall]

7. I can't sleep through Christmas...

I have a kid for whom to play Santa. Unless I could talk him into accepting money instead of gifts. (Just joking. )

:-)

[Red State Blues]

3. Normal

It's normal in my book. Try to get some time in the sunlight tomorrow.

[Maddy McCall]

8. It's been beautifully sunny here...

I have a great chaise lounger--I'll put it in a sunny spot and read.

Thanks for the advice! :-)

[greymattermom]

4. sleep

At this time of year, people should sleep a lot. Before electricity, most people slept 10 hrs a night or more at the winter solstice.

[Maddy McCall]

9. True. Thanks!

:-)

[EstimatedProphet]

6. It's very normal

Reminds me of when I was doing my doctorate-Christmas holiday I would sleep 18 hours a day, seemed like.
The downside is that your time away evaporates in a hurry that way.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Yes, and I have a kiddo to care for...

Thank god he's got great grandparents. Ok, tomorrow, I'm up at 8AM. :-)

[Maddy McCall]

11. I wonder if a couple of visits to a UVA bed would help me?

I certainly don't mean for long term, but just a couple of visits to "wake me up?"

[Lady Effingbroke]

12. It is very normal.

This time last year, I was working 7:30-5 (outside, hot weather, very physical job) and attending night school, as well. After I quit my job so I could attend school full time, as well as being so tired I could barely put one foot in front of the other, I slept nonstop for a week. You're OK. :-)

CONGRATS on your PhD!! :toast: What is it in?

[Maddy McCall]

13. US History....

Thanks! :toast:

Good for you for going to school!

[Lady Effingbroke]

16. U.S. History, how cool!

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm attending my local (and much vaunted by *) community college to be a medical lab tech. It seems like health care is where the jobs are these days. Here are my grades for Fall '04 semester:


I know it's not much, but this is the first time I have ever gotten straight A's, going back to kindergarten!

[Maddy McCall]

17. You rock, Lady!!!

I'm so proud of you!! I came through the community college system. Never think that you are not getting a quality education. I have won every award given in the history department at my university, plus a couple of university-wide awards.

A little advice...try to get in Phi Theta Kappa--it's the community college honor society, and you can get pretty decent awards as a member--and future scholarships, if you ever decide to attend a four year college.

Best wishes to you!! :yourock:

[Lady Effingbroke]

20. Thank you :blush:

I am working to bring my GPA up, as it must be 3.5 or above to be considered for PTK, at least at my school. I am planning on getting a bachelors' degree, and there are many good transfer programs which are affiliated with the hospitals here (Houston). One good thing this town has going for it is its health care and medical center.

Congrats again to YOU on getting your PhD - I can't even begin to imagine all the work that must go into such an endeavor! I am in awe - :yourock:

What kind of work are you going to do once you get your degree, if you don't mind me asking?

[Maddy McCall]

24. I want to move to an area that has vast opportunity for...

American Indian historians. Perhaps in the Appalachians, since I am a Southeast Indian specialist. Who knows where I'll end up, though. My future is wide open.

Yes, PTK requires a 3.5 GPA. You can pull your GPA up in one semester. PTK scholarships were very beneficial when I moved on to the university. You can do it, I know!!

:-)

[cavanaghjam]

14. Oddly enough,

your 12 hr study days would probably have been more productive with less study and more sleep. As we deprive ourselves of sleep, the body (and the mind is not separate from the body) begins to function in minimal mode. Also, much absorption of the day's events takes place while dreaming so one actually gets more if allowed to sleep.

[Maddy McCall]

15. The volume of books and articles I had to read gave me no choice...

but I do agree with you. If I had had more days to study, I certainly would have divided my time accordingly. HOwever, I had six months to read over 800 books and articles. Thank god for book reviews for the less substantial works.

Dreaming--I don't think I have done that in ages. :-)

[salin]

18. Used to get almost deathly sick

(okay thats a tad hyberbolic) just after the end of major deadlines/ hurdles in grad school. Came to conclude that while there was no choice but to forge on - the mind held off the sickness (and extreme fatigue)... it didnt go away - but I just didn't acknowledge it until the mind signaled to the body that it could take back over... and what had been building up over time (physically) kicked in.

I have just gone through a very stressful 9 months (getting a new organization off the ground) - and know that I am about to collapse - but that I will keep going for another week or so before said collapse...

[Maddy McCall]

19. Salin, I have always had the very same experience...

I would develop pretty bad illnesses after deadlines, too. Or get really sick during holidays, right after semesters.

I am hoping that doesn't happen this time...I hope if anything the sleep is preventing some of that.

I agree, the brain is the barrier to the illnesses until utter fatigue kicks in, and a few days later, the illnesses have a portal.

Best wishes in your new organization! :loveya: and THANK YOU FOR THE MOST VALUABLE ADVICE I RECEIVED FROM ANYONE PRIOR TO MY ORALS!!

:loveya: and take care of yourself!!

[salin]

21. Thanks!

I just sent a note asking about your orals... CONGRATS!

I am glad that the advice was helpful. At least I hope it was more helpful than my "world class expert/guru" advisor's advice when writing my quals to just "relax, and drink a glass of wine"... oh ya, and on the night that the papers were due and the printer in the office was acting up, he did stand around and try to look helpful... *snicker*

Thanks for your best wishes - we just weathered one of our first really major potential crises. It occurs to me that being able to "weather" it - suggests that we have really built some sustainability into the endeavor - and that is very gratifying.

My next piece of advice - if you haven't already - do something to pamper yourself - something that seems incredibly self-indulgent that you wouldn't normally do - to honor the self-discipline required to cross this HUGE academic hurdle. Highly individual what that might be - for me it might be shelling out for a massive massage/spa trip, or a weekend at a resort (with a room with a whirlpool...) or perhaps buying that piece of art or furniture you have eyed for awhile... :D Do something to mark the success - it does something good for the soul!

:loveya:!

[Maddy McCall]

23. I'm wish I could leave for a weekend...

but I have 15 baby quails to care for that just hatched day before yesterday, and I have 10 Indian Runner duck eggs in the other incubator...plus a bearded dragon and an iguana that need constant care.

Honestly, I have to commute so far to the university (almost two hours one way three times a week) that I am looking forward to being home, having no responsibilities, and just getting ready for the holidays.

I might invest in a bottle of good wine, though, and some really nice bubble bath, and shut myself up in the bathroom for a night. I hate to admit this, but when one is preparing for something like comps that eats every waking hour, skin care is the last thing one has time to do. So, a nice soak, a louffa, and some expensive wine would be as sweet as a spa trip to me.

:-)

[salin]

25. I hear you...

I became a "bubble bath" taker during the latter part of grad school (quals + ). Gave the short term form of "indulgent" - esp because time was so precious - and taking a long bath suddenly felt indulgent.

While the baths are great - its the splurge that goes along withit (a fantastic bottle of wine or champagne) that makes the difference... of making it something special to mark the moment of the success. Make sure to do this (mark the event). :D

Congratulations again!

[Sanity Claws]

22. It's normal

You should not feel so guilty about getting your catch-up sleep. Sleep is good for you and one of the simple pleasures of life.

[njdemocrat106]

26. Recently I've been going to bed around 6 AM.

I'd usually wake up around 2 PM, but today I woke up at 4 PM. I've got quite a wacky life anyway.

[yellowdogintexas]

27. that is it, you have let down your guard, and told your body it

can sleep now. Sometimes your body will tell itself it can be ill too, so you may come down with a cold or something too.

Take good care of yourself