Every once in awhile, my internal time clock gets screwed up, and I can't sleep. This is one of those times.
And what I really want to know is why is it that I can't sleep at 10:00 when I want to go to bed, but I could certainly go to sleep right now? I blame the universal bastards. They're a lot like regular bastards except that they're bigger and invisible.
When I was younger, I never needed as much sleep as my parents tried to insist that I should get. They'd tell me to go to bed, and I would use a flashlight to read until late at night. As I got older, I just didn't go to bed. Sometimes, I would be going to bed when my dad was getting up to do chores (3:45/4:00ish). I loved staying up all night, and usually, I wouldn't get up any later than 10:00. It was 6:00 if it was a school morning. But I loved being up late at night. The house was so quiet, and the crickets made noise, and going to sleep as the sky was starting to turn a little hazier and lighter was always a good feeling to me. Even in college, I would have nights where I would be up playing around on IM because I couldn't sleep.
But now, I have a job that I have to be at at 7:00 in the morning. And I learned a long time ago that now that I'm getting older, I need at least six hours of sleep. And I have not been getting it lately.
I've pretty much been unable to sleep normally since Wednesday. The funniest thing I did while suffering all weekend was probably when I came home on Friday night at some point after 10:00 and proceeded to sort through the papers out of one of my desk drawers until, oh, 3:00 in the morning. (This was after taking a couple Tylonol PM.)
I bring this up because it pisses me off. Granted, it was probably my own damn fault I couldn't sleep on Saturday night (because I slept in until 11:00 AM that morning), but what the hell? It seems like the more desperately you want to sleep the harder it is to sleep, too. I even went on several long walks this weekend, something that should have expended the extra energy, but nothing really helped.
So, today, I am very bitter about having to be at work, especially so early. I know it's going to be fine, but boooo. I would like to throw things at people.
Posted by LoWriter at June 5, 2006 08:23 AMFirst off, i love your quote. i love when you quote you. once i was told that i was quote worthy, but only b/c i say dumb things before i have a cup of coffee... you, my dear, know how deal it!! ;o)
i used to get bouts of insomnia when i was a kid. i too love the late nights - the sounds, the smells, everything is different. and i wish my body could work around my love of night and my need for 8 hours of sleep. for the time being, i have a job that nicely said i could arrive at 9:30am.
but in your case... just a suggestion... try yoga. not to go to sleep. but just try it out if you can - what with all your extra time! perhaps find a good video you like, but you should definitely go to a class at least once, so an instructor can coach you, and you'll know how things are supposed to feel. i may sound new-agy here, but yoga is stretching based on breathing. it fits for people of all ages, sizes and shapes. my severely inflexible friend tim goes on a regular basis (he's also a cronic smoker). the last class i attended had a small group of women in their 80's. my boss went to a preggo class... anyone can do it! it's not pretzle stuff when you just go for the immediate benefits. which are many.
i am suggesting this b/c some of the things i learned in yoga have helped me to relax in other parts of my life - including winding down for sleep.
but i am also notorious for promo-ing my current habits. so maybe next month you'll get a dish on tofu. who knows? it's just an idea. :o)
Posted by: dr gonzo at June 7, 2006 11:41 AMI always feel funny quoting myself. But, I hope to one day get a kick ass character out of some of my one liners. I found a great introduction in my writing drawer, so it's all good.
I have thought about trying yoga. Maybe I will. I am surprisingly flexible.
Posted by: Lo at June 7, 2006 02:39 PMI use Tivo to put me to sleep. I just lay in bed and start up a mindless program that puts my brain to sleep and then turn off the tv and my body is pretty much out like a light. I use reruns of Good Eats from Food Network. It has been working for months.
Posted by: jeff at June 7, 2006 03:29 PMI watch TV until I am brain dead and I also take Ignatia Amara, which is an herbal suppliment that is supposed to relieve anxiety and put you to sleep. I always use it to go to sleep, but my mom uses it just for anxiety. It works pretty well, and if it is just a sugar pill don't tell me - it works fine...
I think you could sell your one liners to Firefly if they ever start up again. Otherwise, you'll have to find another great show...
Posted by: 10lees at June 8, 2006 10:16 AMMaybe I need to get a little TV for in my bedroom. This is seriously day 10 of the insomnia, and it's kicking my ass. Today, I'm trying to finish sentences, and I have no idea what I'm talking about even.
Posted by: Lo at June 8, 2006 02:37 PM