Sleeping after a late TT session

[Infernal]

I cannot sleep if I play TT late (finish after 7-8pm, say). I normally go to bed around 10pm, and often sleep like shit anyway, but playing TT in the evening just ruins my sleep completely.

Any advice on how to handle this? I am sure I am not the only one suffering from this.

EDIT: cue toxic replies from people who do not have sleep problems.

 

[ShakehandJpenCpenEnjoyer]

Cold shower maybe?

 

[AceSpin]

Cold shower maybe?

Cold shower makes you awake, it should be warm shower

 

[mamedium]

I cannot sleep if I play TT late (finish after 7-8pm, say). I normally go to bed around 10pm, and often sleep like shit anyway, but playing TT in the evening just ruins my sleep completely.

Any advice on how to handle this? I am sure I am not the only one suffering from this.

play another match when you get home

yes, that’s the one you are thinking about

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

after TT practice; go home and watch more TT on YT until sleepy.

 

[PoppaChubby]

It's totally normal it's the adrenaline boost, I've had the same issue when coming back from a gig, jazz being a music that needs technique, virtuosity and makes your brain work a lot, I couldn't sleep before at least 1h30 to 2h after packing my music stuff in my home.

Don't overthink, just relax, wanna watch a movie or a show ? feel free to do it, it will help you not overthink. Most of the time doing that, you'll not be able to keep your eyes opened. When you feel you've lost some minutes of the movie/show, you know it's time to sleep.

EDIT: even more important, eat, a lot. But not "junk food", plant based proteins or a protein shake, it will help for your muscles recovery first, and second proteins in general being harder to digest, it drains a lot of our energy, so it reduces a lot the adrenaline rush.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

i know the struggle but i dont have an answer!

 

[Sedis]

I have the same problem, but mostly after competitive matches.

It does seem that something about table tennis makes it worse than other sports, which I have done at a higher level than I play table tennis at, and I never had any issues sleeping after those.

 

[tobitdehnen]

I have the same sleep issue. In the UK league matches often finish after 11pm and sometimes after midnight, so it's already pretty late and the last thing you want is to struggle getting to sleep. I have a 45 minute drive home and used to listen to music and would sing along. However, since changing listening to relaxing, classical music (and sometimes even doing box-breathing) on the way home, to bring me back down after hyped up matches, I tend to get to sleep quicker and wake up less too.

 

[Jslick89]

have a baby. you will be so tired after that you will fall asleep within an hour. lol. but seriously, i had the same issue as you until I became a father.

If you want a faster, cheaper and easier solution- have you tried having a hot cup of chamomile tea? doing some stretches and deep breathing when you get home? using a heat pad to relax the muscles further?

 

[dingyibvs]

play another match when you get home

yes, that’s the one you are thinking about

You jest but it's actually really effective and all natural (individual experienced may vary)!

 

[PoppaChubby]

I have the same problem, but mostly after competitive matches.

It does seem that something about table tennis makes it worse than other sports, which I have done at a higher level than I play table tennis at, and I never had any issues sleeping after those.

Our brain does a lot of work in TT, it's way more mental than any other sport that requires more physical abilities. It drives our nerves pretty bad sometimes, and it's related to adrenaline.

 

[latej]

On Wednesdays (sometimes, like 1 of 4), I train late from 8 to 10:15pm, I get home at 11pm, sometimes have a beer, sometimes have a light soup, and I can calm down rel. quickly. But when we have competitive matches, say from 17 to 20:30pm, I also am not able to calm down quickly and fall to sleep late, later than on those Wednesdays... Other people wrote the same, so, it's obviously mental-related...

A friend from another club, on higher level, is getting me into breathing - it's like a door to me... There is enormous potential... Another area with enormous potential is fasting, but that is not much sleep related... The cold shower, I do short cold shower at the end of showering, yes it wakes at the moment, but then it actually relaxes even more, can recommend too.

 

[Ghostzen]

Food and Beer. Fantastic for a social relax and forgetting all those missed topspin shots.
In the UK. After a late one it was a Pizza on the way back or a crafty burger.
After a big match, there isn't much to do after the buzz of playing apart from replay every single point in your head till morning!. The TT Hangover is real sometimes....

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

listen to music and calm your mind down

 

[boretennis]

same problem. i smoke weed.

 

[PoppaChubby]

same problem. i smoke weed.

I'm afraid it's not an option where he lives: Tokelau is governed by New-Zealand that strictly prohibits any drug consumption.

EDIT:

Cannabis​

Many countries have legalised cannabis such as Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and some states within the USA. Just remember, cannabis might be legal where you’re from, but it’s still illegal here.

Cannabis is the fourth-most widely used substance in New Zealand, after caffeine, alcohol and tobacco (all of these are legal).

Cannabis is also known in New Zealand as 'weed', 'pot', 'grass' and sometimes called 'mull', 'chronic', 'dak', 'hash', 'smoke', 'buds', 'skunk' or 'cabbage'. It comes in three main forms: marijuana, hashish and hash oil. Marijuana is the most common form of cannabis and it’s made up of dried leaves.

While cannabis is very common in New Zealand, it is illegal. If you’re caught with cannabis you can be fined
$500NZD for possession, even if you only have a marijuana cigarette ('joint') on you.

In 2020, a referendum (a vote to decide on a particular policy) was held to give New Zealanders an opportunity to choose if cannabis should be legal for medical and personal use. It did not pass. --> Denmark allows medicinal cannabis

https://www.naumainz.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/discover-new-zealand/laws-and-government/drug-laws-in-nz

 

[lodro]

I'm afraid it's not an option where he lives: Tokelau is governed by New-Zealand that strictly prohibits any drug consumption.

EDIT:

Cannabis​

Many countries have legalised cannabis such as Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and some states within the USA. Just remember, cannabis might be legal where you’re from, but it’s still illegal here.

Cannabis is the fourth-most widely used substance in New Zealand, after caffeine, alcohol and tobacco (all of these are legal).

Cannabis is also known in New Zealand as 'weed', 'pot', 'grass' and sometimes called 'mull', 'chronic', 'dak', 'hash', 'smoke', 'buds', 'skunk' or 'cabbage'. It comes in three main forms: marijuana, hashish and hash oil. Marijuana is the most common form of cannabis and it’s made up of dried leaves.

While cannabis is very common in New Zealand, it is illegal. If you’re caught with cannabis you can be fined
$500NZD for possession, even if you only have a marijuana cigarette ('joint') on you.

In 2020, a referendum (a vote to decide on a particular policy) was held to give New Zealanders an opportunity to choose if cannabis should be legal for medical and personal use. It did not pass. --> Denmark allows medicinal cannabis

https://www.naumainz.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/discover-new-zealand/laws-and-government/drug-laws-in-nz

actually cannabis can be prescribed here in NZ by doctors in certain circumstances. However the stuff is much more expensive than what can be had on the "open market"

 

[mamedium]

You jest but it's actually really effective and all natural (individual experienced may vary)!

different rubber too!

 

[sebi]

I have the same issue, especially if i am not satisfied with the way i played and lost because of it or missed easy balls. I take melatonin every evening it helps a bit. I can only sleep if i think about for a bit and close my thoughts. After Training it´s easy but matches f me up.