This is something I began brainstorming about yesterday and I did some reading to see if it would work out with my current work situation. It may not be necessary if I end up getting a new job soon (some stores are opening near me and their earlier operating hours would definitely help), but I want to be prepared in the meantime.

I know from research that WHEN you wake up is possibly more important than how much sleep you got the night before. Consistent wake-up times help you establish routines and get your day going. If you constantly have to switch those times in the mornings, say 6 a.m. this day, 8 a.m. the next because of a late shift, etc., it’s going to make it harder to get to sleep when you need to because you’ve kept your body guessing too much. In the past week, I’ve largely only gone to sleep because my eyes were drooping and they told me to get to bed.

My biggest concern is getting that consistent wake-up time in order to make sure I work out in the morning and don’t skip because “I slept in too long and all these other things I need to do are priority.” I let that happen a few times too many the past few weeks and must get back on track.

Some nights I might not get home til 1:30 a.m., sometimes midnight, sometimes 11 p.m. It all depends on the shift, and that can mean I get a good 7 hours of sleep a night or as little as 3-4 at the most before my alarm hits. On those days, waking up at 6:30 a.m. could be pretty rough and I’d be wanting sleep a few hours later. So, a nap would be beneficial.

According to this article from the Mayo Clinic, the amount of time for a helpful nap depends on what you want to get out of it. If it’s a matter of not getting enough sleep the night before, a nap up to 90 minutes at the most will allow deep sleep and entry into REM, whereas a “power nap” that’ll have you feeling refreshed and getting focused can and should be done in as little as 20-30 minutes.

Sleeping longer than 90 minutes, especially if it’s not early in the afternoon hours, can mess with your sleep schedule badly.

So tonight/tomorrow, I’m going to try this out for this week. I’m setting my alarm for 6:00 a.m. and hope I’ll have the pets out to pee and be ready to go work out by 6:30 a.m. I will likely get enough sleep tonight, but in case I don’t feel quite there yet by noon, I’ll build in a short hour-long nap before I go to work.

The reason I picked 6 a.m. as my workout time is in part because I will have to get up even earlier than that once I get closer to the race date. Establishing a new wake-up routine will re-align my hunger and prompt me to eat at new times that will keep me going and not put me in a lazy state. I’m going to have to practice and record my water intake, exercise, and hunger cues so I end up properly fueled up, so to speak.

Today I should have taken a nap; now It’s 11:30 p.m. and my eyes are drooping badly. I may need that nap tomorrow after all because I’m not getting that 7 hours I want so badly.

But for now, I’m setting my workout clothes out so I put them on first thing. That’s half the battle right there, for cardio or strength training. 6:00 a.m. wakeup, take care of animals, exercise, write, clean, then take a nap around 1 or 2 p.m. for up to 90 minutes (or block that time off, at least, in case I can’t get sleep right away). That will give me time to usually shower and get ready for the afternoon far more alert.

I wish I’d thought of this sooner, honestly. I’ve felt the need for a LOT of naps the past week.