Why My Friend Can’t Sleep on Tuesdays

Have you ever come across a curious and repeated pattern in someone's life? Something you cannot pinpoint as logical? This is what my friend does – she always has trouble sleeping on Tuesdays. Initially, I thought that maybe she is just like everyone else who has an off night. However, as the time period extended, I noticed it wasn’t a singular occurrence. Each Tuesday, she was wide awake, staring at the ceiling. This was not a one-time event; this was part of her routine. The First Time She Brought It Up When we were gathering at our regular coffee shop, she said something that caught my attention: “You know, I can never fall asleep on Tuesdays.” For a moment, I thought she was joking. After all, one-off sleepless nights here and there isn't uncommon, right? But the resigned tone in which she spoke made me think about it. It was not as though she was just slightly out of sorts. In fact, on Tuesdays, it almost felt as if her mind went into overdrive. Her brains thoughts for breakfast, the relentless ticking of the clock, and complete absentees of sleep. It felt as if my mind was trapped behind bars—this was more severe than just regular insomnia. A New Pattern Begins to Form More than a month went by and now, come Wednesday, I would hear that she was torched from the night prior. It wasn’t exhaustion like I was easily becoming accustomed to, it was that bone-cinching fatigue that accompanies you every waking hour. And that’s when it hit. She was continuously reliving this pattern over and over and it did not seem to be a coincidence. There was something else, something deeper, and it was screaming for attention. Could It Be A Habit? At first, I thought this was a reflex of sorts. A primitive habit one forms without knowing. Perhaps this was something she was intentionally or unintentionally waiting for after two sleepless Tuesdays. If she loathed Tuesday nights, then perhaps she set herself up for another sleepless night. The more I pondered it, the more I came to the realization that Sarah does not seem like someone who worries too much. Yes, she is organized and level-headed, but habits don’t seem to fit her. Stress Could Be an Issue Here  Incredibly, it donned upon me—what if stress was the underlying cause? Sarah’s work is undoubtedly challenging, come week’s end, she has already dealt with numerous meetings, burning deadlines and a ton of work waiting to be completed. I wouldn’t blame Sarah if the stress had begun to wear on her. It makes sense, right? As humans, we tend to have difficulty turning off the switch when we become overly stimulated. It may have been too much for her to unwind by her bedtime. The Monday Effect I also recalled that Mondays dictate the course of the week. If Sarah's workweek was starting rough and she was trying to play catch up, that probably bled into Tuesday night. By the time she settled down into bed, her mind had been through the ringer and sleep was futile. Why Tuesdays? One day, Sarah said something that stuck: “It’s not just the stuff going on in my life; this only happens on Tuesdays.” Huh. Is it possible that it is something intrinsic to Tuesdays themselves? I know some cultures have a very particular aversion to Tuesdays which is attributed to bad energy. Could that be having an effect on her, even if it is subconsciously? But Sarah isn’t that superstitious, so I assumed that was unlikely. Rather, I think it is a blend of stress and exhaustion, mixed with the psychological burden that Tuesdays hold for her. A Few Small Changes To improve Sarah’s sleep, I made a few suggestions. She began to develop a bedtime ritual, and even started to sort her thoughts out before bed by writing them down. She is taking baby steps, and can see some improvement, but there is still a way to go. The good news is she is feeling a little better. The Bigger Picture Missing sleep sometimes has no clear reason behind it, and for Sarah, her insomnia on Tuesdays is likely due to a combination of emotions and stress coupled with the significance of the day itself. Recognizing the problem is part of the solution as well. With a little bit of time and patience, along with additional tweaks here and there, I believe Sarah will eventually be able to sleep, even on those troublesome Tuesdays.