I have struggled to sleep my entire life. I do not recall ever having two days that I slept well. By the time I was 10 years old my parents gave up trying to have me to sleep at a prescribed time. I just did not fall asleep....ever! We compromised. I went to my bedroom at the time my brothers and sister did, I won't bug them - they all fell asleep and weren't much fun anyway - and after my parents went to bed, I could wake up and watch television, read, bake, whatever....but I had to get up the next morning without complaint. I loved and still love being awake and quiet into the early morning hours.
Part of my challenge - I realized as an adult - has been I think sleep is a waste of time. Why stop to lie down when there are so many other things a person could be doing?
When I became a parent at 23 years old, this "problem" became a strength. Funny how sometimes that happens (just as our strengths can become a problem at times). When I returned to college with two kids and a single parent, this was a gift!
A few years ago I had a 6 or 7...maybe it was 8 days that I didn't sleep at all. I visited the sleep clinic. I cut out all caffeine. I developed "healthy sleep hygiene" and I still didn't sleep well.
I think the negative effects of persistent sleep deprivation started setting in when I turned 40 years old. It seemed the harder I tried to sleep, the worse I was at it.
Sleep is the most important thing that I have been putting off most of my life. Why? I feel/think I have so much to do, so much to see, so much to read that I must stay up! I don't want to miss a moment of any of it. What do I need? Well, a prescribed sleeping aid! I've had this for about four years now and most nights I get a good 6 -7 hours of sleep. This is progress....but far from perfection. After a recent five day conference, I came home exhausted (sleeping in a different bed and room adds a whole other dimension to my sleep struggle). I arrived home at 11:30 pm and was in the office at 8 am. I left work at 4:30 pm and was in bed AND sleeping by 4:44 pm (exactly) and did not wake up until 7 am the next morning.
So here is what I have concluded/decided about this most important thing. I haven't slept much the first 50 years of my life. The second 50 I am going to sleep late whenever I can. I'm going to bed when I tired, even if it is 4:44 pm. In between sleep time I will enjoy the moments, hours, and experiences....without yawning!!
Sweet dreams!
