Sleeping in on Your Day Off
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118664)
Gainesville, Florida
January 18, 2016 7:15am CST
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a holiday in the United States. Which means many people have the day off from work, including me. So, not only do I look forward to holidays and other days off from work, but I look forward to sleeping in as late as possible.
Which really pisses me off that I wake up at the crack of dawn every single time I have a day off from work, no matter how late I stayed up the night before, or how late I plan to sleep in on the day off!
This would be funny if it happened every day, even on the days I have to work, but it only seems to be a phenomenon that happens on holidays and weekends. Why is it that during the week when I have to work, I can sleep right through my alarm clock, a tornado, and Armageddon, but during weekends and holidays the second the sun peaks over the horizon I am wide awake?
Does anyone else experience this, or am I just a weirdo?
Wait a minute, please don't answer the second part of that question! LOL
11 people like this
13 responses
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
23 Jan 16
I wake up early. On my day off I enjoy getting up slowly and taking a nap during the afternoon. On work days, I teach my first class at 7:20 a.m.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60584)
• Perth, Australia
3 Feb 16
HAHAHAHA! Your post is hilarious. Nah, you are not a weirdo. I don't know why it would be happening to you but that sucks.
I can somewhat relate. I don't have a job like you but there have been certain courses that I had to go do couple of years ago. I would wake up getting ready to leave, wishing I didn't have to because I was too tired but then I would get a text or call saying the course was cancelled.
You would think I'd go back to sleep but I would lay down and be wide awake. It's not the same as you but I mean it's weird. Wanting to go to sleep thinking you've got something to do but soon as you have nothing, you're wide awake.....same but different lol
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 16
I know exactly what you're talking about, because I experience the same thing from time to time. It is very frustrating when you are so exhausted and tired but just can't seem to fall back asleep. That's the worst feeling. In my experiences, my frustration was because I was too tired to actually get up and do anything, but at the same time too wide awake to actually fall back asleep. Sort of a Catch-22 situation.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 16
@VivaLaDani13 We can make life easy...just stay in bed all day and post and comment on myLot! Who cares about going to work, or eating, or getting dressed, or....going to the bathroom! LOL
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I tend to wake at almost the same time every day. I had to work on MLK day. Healthcare has no holidays. For me, sleeping-in is never later than 7 or 8, unless I am sick.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly I didn't. UGH!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jan 16
Once again, a weekend arrives, and I'm up at....6:00am! Sigh!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459735)
• Switzerland
19 Jan 16
@moffittjc It is very possible that your internal alarm is set on another time, I believe that we cannot change it.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
I wish I could consistently wake up at the same time every day! If it wasn't for my alarm clock each morning, I'm sure my wakeup times would be all over the place. I'm surprised that after all these decades of having to get up for work at the same time everyday, that my body hasn't adapted and created its own "internal" alarm clock.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
@LadyDuck Yes, that is true! I've come to realize over the years that I can't change my internal clock! It is what it is!
It's interesting that you mention that, because when my daughter was born, within her first week of life I knew based on her feeding and sleeping habits that she was going to be a night owl. And sure enough, I was right! I also knew my son was going to be an "early to bed, early to rise" person as well!
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
18 Jan 16
It seemed to be that way when I had to go to work, but now that I can sleep in anytime I want to, I wake up around 5:30. I don't mind though, that is when I get the time to visit here! 
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
Normally, I have no issues with waking up early, because you can get so much more done in the peace and quiet of the morning hours. But when I stay up later than usual simply for the fact that I don't have to wake up at a predetermined time in the morning, then it bothers me that I can't sleep in! I'm willing to bet that since I was up so early this morning, I'll need a nap later on today! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
@sgbrown I take power naps more often than I care to admit. But in my case, I really put the "power" in my naps! I literally can take a five minute power nap and feel like a million bucks afterward. Not many people can pull that off! When my girlfriend takes a nap, she needs a good 45 minutes!
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
19 Jan 16
@moffittjc I hope you got your nap! When I get up extra early, a "power nap" does me a world of good!
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
19 Jan 16
I had the same habit when I was in school. Holidays are too exciting to be wasted by sleeping in. That was my thought back then. But now after a baby and my business, I rarely get the chance to sleep in. My ideal holiday would be sleeping straight till lunch!
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
My ideal vacation would be sleeping for the entire week! On a beach....in a hammock....with a pina colada!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
@Scindhia I'm dreaming about a vacation like that, just like you are! hahaha
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc If only there were vacations like that for me. I can only dream :)
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
18 Jan 16
I'm the same way during the week i can sleep in but on weekends no way. I unfortunately do not have today off as I work in a hospital we don't get MLK day off. I feel like i could sleep 8 more hours though and I'm not feeling good. Enjoy your day off
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
I hope you feel better! Nothing's worse than having to work when you don't feel good.
@cherriefic (10400)
• Philippines
18 Jan 16
It really happens as it seems you have nothing to worry about so the quality of your sleep is better although short. You can just try sleeping again during the day.
@cherriefic (10400)
• Philippines
18 Jan 16
@moffittjc That's great! At least make the most out of it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
That is definitely what I plan on doing today! Later this afternoon I will take a nice nap!
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
18 Jan 16
I have never in my life slept in - I only sleep a few hours a night. I am not one to sleep beyond 5:30 or so no matter what.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
18 Jan 16
@moffittjc I never in my working life had to set an alarm clock!
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I wish I was that way! I only wake up early on days when I don't have to be up early! Otherwise, without my alarm clock on weekdays, I would probably sleep til noon!
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
I have always been a night owl, so I don't normally wake up too early just because of that fact. I would rather go to sleep early and wake up early, but my body just doesn't seem to be wired that way.
@IvySaysHi (4467)
• United States
18 Jan 16
I am sure you aren't a weirdo and i would love to sleep in or at least be up early but fully rested.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
Haha thanks for saying I'm not a weirdo! At least I was able to take a power nap this afternoon to make up for waking up so early today! I guess that's better than nothing!
@JESSY3236 (19008)
• United States
18 Jan 16
Today I actually don't take the day off. I don't normally sleep in, but during my visit to NJ I did wake up later than usual.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
I think vacations are probably the one exception where I could sleep in without any issues. Maybe I should start taking more vacations! lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326482)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Jan 16
Just as I was about to say - you're a weirdo - I read the last sentence. It must be that you're eager to be up and off doing all sorts of 'stuff' that you don't normally do on work days.
@moffittjc (118664)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 16
Although I didn't really have anything planned today, I'm sure I can find something to do to keep my busy throughout the day. One thing's for sure though, there will be a nap in there somewhere later on today! lol
1 person likes this
