How Is Your Sleep

Insomniac 

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Do you wake up at night? Are you sometimes up for an hour or more? Unable to get back to sleep for some unknown reason. That is me tonight. Some nights I can roll over and instantly fall back asleep. Other nights tossing and turning for hours on end interrupts any thought of sleep. 

Closing your eyes doesn’t help. They pop back open with an alarming frequency. Laying on your back, turning to your left and then right side and then back again. None of it helps. 

What is the answer? Most nights I’ll get on my phone and at times have gotten on my laptop. As long as I cannot sleep, I may as well do something productive. 

Sleep Aids

There are plenty of sleep aids on the market. Some of us swear by the sleep mask. This is something I’ve never tried. But if it works for you then by all means use it. There are many over the counter medications we can try. Benadryl was one of the many I have tried. That is until I worked at a pharmacy and the pharmacist there told me not to use Benadryl because it caused a drugged sleep not a good sleep. Taking his advice, I’ve been off Benadryl now for years. 

It’s frustrating and annoying to lay awake for hours. Especially if your other half is snoring beside you. It seems no matter what you try nothing works. Your eyelids are stuck open, your mind busy. 

Maybe trying soothing sounds would work. I’ve heard it does but it’s something I’ve never tried either. 

My Brain Won't Shut Off

Most nights I’ll start to write, which is what I am doing now. It’s 2am and I’m in the middle of this post. My brain is working now so there is no chance of sleep anytime soon. Wide awake and ready to work. 

They say counting sheep helps. This is a technique I have tried. It doesn’t work for me. 

If I had trouble at work or something happened during my day that was unfortunate, my mind keeps me awake. Worrying about it. My brain is on high alert. It keeps replaying whatever happened, a constant loop going through my head. This will keep me up for hours. I’ve been known to toss and turn until 4 in the morning. Finally falling into an exhausted sleep. Then back up again at six or seven am. Not enough sleep, making me cranky and irritated for the day ahead. 

This Is Me

Stress, anxiety, and overthinking. Three of the top reasons for lack of sleep. I have all three, especially overthinking. What starts out small snowballs into something out of this world huge by the time I’m done thinking about it. None of the above helps in any shape or form. Stress has all sorts of negativity attached to it, as well as anxiety. Not good for your mind, body, or soul.

Reading will put me to sleep if I am tired enough. It’s happened a few times. It’s relaxing and before I know it my eyes close, the book falls and I startle myself awake.

Just Close Your Eyes

Falling asleep naturally is the way to go. There are things we all should avoid doing such as eating anything high in sugar before bed. Get plenty of exercise during the day, avoid napping, and don't get on your phone. Getting on the phone is most likely something we all do. It’s easily accessible next to my bed. Reach over and grab it. Google is always waiting, as well as Wordle, and Candy Crush. Before I know it an hour or so has gone by, I’m still awake and the nights half over. Luckily, I’m retired and do not have to get up and go to work in the morning.  Lack of sleep does not bode well for the start of a new day. Overtired and your brain not firing on all four cylinders makes for a long day. I’m sure we’ve all been through it. It’s an early bedtime the next night. Hopefully with sleep not eluding us once again. 

Sixty and Up

They say if you are sixty or older you should get 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Easier said than done. Some nights perhaps but not all nights. Any sleep is better than no sleep at all. At times I settle for four hours. 

Feeling groggy and slightly sick the next day from lack of sleep is common. The day seems to stretch on forever, returning home and falling into bed is all we can think of. 

A nighttime ritual may help. Doing the same thing night after night will cause the mind to shut down when it’s supposed to. Routine, it does a body good. Me, I’ll keep writing and waiting to get tired enough. Sleep eludes me for now.

Another night of endlessly tossing and turning. It makes me want to get up and start my day, but it’s 3 am and the whole world is asleep except me. Since it’s not acceptable to not sleep, I’ll try closing my eyes and see what happens. Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky and fall asleep. 

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Sweet dreams everyone.

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