Sleep issue.

[ggulliver]

Recently my iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017 - 10.14.6) enters some form of sleep whereby waking is slow - to a grayscale-type screen with a progress bar, following which the mouse is unresponsive.

I'd like to get back to how things used to be - simple nudge of mouse, or key-click, brings almost-instant readiness.

Suggestions appreciated - please/thanks/etcetera.

UPDATE... just read that this behavior (Mac might enter Safe Sleep if left idle for a long time) is normal for 'iMac (Late 2012) and later' - though I've had this machine for a year and never yet experienced it until recently.

 

[TwoH]

Have you disabled sleep? This is what happens when you disable the sleep on Late 2015 iMacs when you are using an NVMe

Edit: Have you tried to reset your energy saver preferences?

 

[mj_]

Have you recently installed and run any software that promised to make your Mac "2X FASTER!!!!!" or any other so-called "optimization" tools?

 

[ggulliver]

Have you disabled sleep? This is what happens when you disable the sleep on Late 2015 iMacs when you are using an NVMe

Edit: Have you tried to reset your energy saver preferences?

Thanks.
No, sleep isn't disabled.
I use USB externals.
Prefs have recently been changed to not 'enable power nap'.
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Have you recently installed and run any software that promised to make your Mac "2X FASTER!!!!!" or any other so-called "optimization" tools?

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Thanks.

No, all that might have been done is auto OS update to whatever is current.