Sleeping with the CVT

Is it just me or does anyone else feel the CVT is extremely hypnotic?
The Ford C-Max was my 1st CVT and before that I drove stick for around 10 years living in Europe.
My 2nd CVT was the Prius C and now the Prius Alpha. In between I had the VW Eos (convertible Golf GTI), Ford Fiesta and Mazda 3.
I have had this funny behind the wheel droopy for the past 2-3 years and it all really started to get worse with the CVT. In the past having to shift gears on my Ford Ka and the DSG on the EOS and Fiesta keeps the drivetrain connected to me, having shift points and rev changes in the engine somehow kept my brain occupied.

With the CVT it is very dull once we get up to highway speed and the revs stay low which knocks me out around 10-15min into a highway stretch of road. I must admit I have some times dreamt at a traffic light and woke up to find myself falling asleep on the highway.
I wonder if anyone else find it difficult to stay awake driving on the highway with the CVT we have.

 

OMG a big thank you to everyone. I knew something must be going on.
I try to use music when i can but mostly there are other people on the car. And to be honest when i get into the phase no matter if i play lowed music or give myself a good few smacks still can not get out of it fully, only stopping and getting off the car can wake me up properly. As soon as i get out of the car and walk for a few minutes like going to the public washroom i become totally connected. and once i get behind the wheel after 10 to 15 minutes it may happen again, especially on the highway.
Bisco and gromitto I totally agree with you something is off for sure.
Do you guys think sleep apnea can get this bad? I sleep on average 4 hours a day for the past year with the newborn its hard to get a full night in, but my situation started 3 to 4 years before that..
The situation gets worse and almost predictable if i start driving after a meal like lunch or dinner. Interestingly when the symptoms hit i find eating wakes me up right away, I take a few bites here and there and that keeps me occupied enough to be alert and I do not feel the drowsiness at all as long as I keep ingesting snacks and food. .
So two things i use to get me out; eat food like chips and sandwiches until my next available stop to get out of the car and I will be fine.
I do want to hear more about sleep apnea and anything which could be causing this.

 

Oh I will be out for sure with level 3. openpilot AI has upgrades to turn our Prius which have lane assist and collision avoidance into self driving vehicles for as little as $600. I was tempted to install it not for me to use but for my wife to use it while i take a rest on the highway because she is scared to drive on highways. But I worry if i use it I will be out cold for sure.

 

Ok! So it seems I might have some health issues and it is not coming from the CVT.
Although I do believe a more enthusiastic power delivery system can help bump the adrenaline, keep me up while fatigued from sleep apnea and adrenaline also helps glucose metabolism and increase blood pressure for awareness.

 

Thanks buddy! Yeah the apnea is slowly becoming a problem. I got a variable PAP machine now. Seems to help a bit but I still get the Zzzz after meals and driving on the highway for 15min or longer.