The notion of time can be quite flexible across cultures. For some, you’re not late if you arrive ten or fifteen minutes after the agreed-upon hour. For others, it’s a sign of disrespect or unreliability.
But every now and then, there are moments when timing isn’t just important—it’s everything, and there’s simply no room for error. And as you've probably experienced, even with the best intentions, things don’t always go according to plan. Or your sleep schedule!
To reassure you that it happens to the rest of us and that there’s no need to beat yourself up over it, we put together a collection of stories where people describe their absolute worst cases of oversleeping. Whether it was a final exam or a crucial business meeting, the stakes were high, and they still managed to mess up.
#61
I missed winning the Hamilton ticket lottery. I had a nasty cold and finally let myself take a day off (I'm disabled and have to be stingy with those days). They text you and you get like 2 hours to redeem. I woke up 5 minutes after the cutoff and they held firm.
It felt like yet another disability tax and I was not in a good place. A friend felt bad and bought us the last two tickets being sold anywhere - second row center. Pretty sure he spent nearly a grand.
It felt like yet another disability tax and I was not in a good place. A friend felt bad and bought us the last two tickets being sold anywhere - second row center. Pretty sure he spent nearly a grand.
2points
#62
Last day of middle school, overslept the bus by 3 minutes, slip on all of my clothes and run out the door to try and make it to school on foot.
The school is 2 miles from my house, almost entirely on an incline.
The school is 2 miles from my house, almost entirely on an incline.
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1point
#63
I was 19 then, doing my diploma. I’m a deeply emotional empath. My mother’s biological dad passed, and though I’d never seen him and only spoken to him on the phone once, he died 4 hours before an exam. My mom was a mess, she was telling me all these things about him and i ended up crying more than her. Like constantly, for 3 hours. I ended up getting a migraine, thought ill just rest
My head for 20 min literally a floor above the exam hall. I'd slept for 1.5 hours, and i wasn’t allowed to do the exam lol. I had to repeat that term.
My head for 20 min literally a floor above the exam hall. I'd slept for 1.5 hours, and i wasn’t allowed to do the exam lol. I had to repeat that term.
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1point
#64
Missed work, school, uni, gatherings with friends, sports, choir practice; basically everything at least once. My sleep rhythm is horrendous and has been for nearly 10 years now. The only thing that always worked out, though there were some close calls, were long travels. Those stress me out so much that I have trouble oversleeping them.
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1point
#66
Came home from working 6a-2p shift. Was on Skype with my bf at the time and apparently nodded off. Woke up around 7/8 PM but it was that light where things are dark yet softly lit. It was dusk but my brain thought it was dawn.
I saw it was almost 9 and thought I had somehow slept through the night, into the morning, while on Skype, and my bf didn't wake me up. I was so mad at him while scrambling yo get ready.
He goes "It's [whatever time] PM."
And I about cried because I thought he not only let me sleep through the night but the WHOLE NEXT DAY. I finally put it all together and felt awful. I did apologize but he was a bit upset I got upset.
I saw it was almost 9 and thought I had somehow slept through the night, into the morning, while on Skype, and my bf didn't wake me up. I was so mad at him while scrambling yo get ready.
He goes "It's [whatever time] PM."
And I about cried because I thought he not only let me sleep through the night but the WHOLE NEXT DAY. I finally put it all together and felt awful. I did apologize but he was a bit upset I got upset.
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0points
