I learned something when I was in the interview process of Jury Duty lately. I learned how easily I can fall asleep! OMG, sitting in a courtroom through that process is incredibly boring. Cell phone off, computer off, couldn’t chit chat with my fellow detainees, and the muse had abandoned me to my fate. So I found myself getting very, sleepy. It didn’t help that by the time I was in that courtroom it was the afternoon. And since I tend to wake up at 5am to go the gym and sometimes don’t get to bed until 11p, I’ve been craving afternoon naps.
So I’m sitting in the courtroom getting sleepier and sleepier. Yes, the process was hypnotic! I settle more comfortably and just can’t keep my eyes open. But my body doesn’t really feel tired, its just my eyes. And my brain still seems completely NOT tired at all. Perhaps my naturally dry eyes are triggering all these nap ideas in my head. So I’ll just rest them.
And the most interesting thing happens. I can consciously notice my brain slipping into the dream state. Feel my consciousness disconnect from something else, everything else and drift. I drift for just a moment or two, although there is little feeling of time so maybe longer. When I feel myself sinking deeper into sleep I snap back to wakefulness. I opened my eyes and was surprised at how refreshed I felt.
I did that several more times in that courtroom and managed to get my nap without actually losing track of what was going on around me. I’d discovered the Micro Nap. 15 minutes of a quick nap is incredibly refreshing mentally. But I used to be amazed at how anyone could sleep in public, just anywhere. And now I’m one of them!
You should see me use the Micro Nap when I’m stuck waiting for something. Like one of my sons classes to finish or an airline flight!