It's day 2 of this writing Challenge. I certainly did not start out thinking I would be cataloguing this online. But here we go. Accountability is a good thing. So a writer doesn't write in a vacuum. There is usually a passion behind why someone writes. Before Gloria Steinem became known as a feminist activist, she wrote for various publications on subjects that interested her. It just so happens that feminism was what she became most known for. For me, I am interested in countless topics. Education, parenting, human trafficking, habit formation, child development, health, and most recently marine life, namely the colossal squid. However, the topic that is immediately pressing right now is sleep.
I'm going to share something that those close to me may already know. I am addicted to late nights. Seriously, it is the time of day where I can take my time, read, take a long shower, all undisturbed. I know I’m not alone in this and I’m sure there are others who can corroborate with the bliss of this time. Gretchin Rubin in her book, Better than Before, used the term “Revenge sleep” to describe that feeling of alone time that people take and night because they don’t have time to themselves. As nice as it is, I can tell that it is now taking a toll on my health. Going to bed close to midnight and waking up and 6 for several days in a row is bound to take some kind of effect. So what are some practical ways or creative ideas that have helped me to go to bed early? I’ll share what has worked for me in the past.
Good days Work Done
One thing that has helped is knowing that I’ve got a good days work of work in. That is, the kitchen is clean, there are no more chores to do in the evening, or I’ve done my most important work in the day. Going to bed with a clean kitchen, clean living room, and a clear conscience knowing that I did my best, puts me in a position where I won’t have to stay up too long to complete those tasks.
Follow Set Routine
Another thing that has helped is to follow a short but predictable evening routine. I know this from research and from experience that this works. The challenge with this is that I typically have too many items on my list. So the most important is praying, and writing down a list of things to do in the morning. If I can't manage a clear to do list, a general "brain dump" works well too. A brain dump is listing everything that needs to be done or concerns you have. Putting it on paper gets it out of your mind. Of course making sure I shower for a shorter time also gets me in bed earlier. (long showers are a guilty pleasure) Along with following a routine, having a set bedtime will ensure that I'm doing my routine in a timely manner. Right now my bedtime is between 10 and 11. Each week, I'll try to shave a few minutes off.
Express Gratitude
Lastly, a generally grateful attitude can really soothe a worried mind. This piece is crucial because a really huge factor in me going to sleep late is worry. My mind races so fast and I know there are things I may have forgotten to do, or anxiety associated with making sure the house runs smoothly the next day, or myriad of other worries. When I lay down on the bed and just give thanks to God and trust that I did my best, this helps.
Overall, I’m very motivated to do my best to get to bed earlier. I do have a health coach that I started meeting with a few weeks back, so this extra accountability really helps. It’s been far too many days where it takes all of my willpower to be pleasant when I'm actually feeling groggy and on edge. I trust that I can do what it takes for my health's sake. I value health and wellness. If I am to take my values seriously, I need to put sleep right up there on the priority list. I have with it takes. I’m confident that this will get better. I'll just take one day at a time.
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