From an early age, kids idolize superheroes and villains in shows and aspire to have certain special abilities. Some want to fly over cities or have superhuman strength to fight crime while others want to be part spider and swing through the sky to save the world. I never connected deeply with one particular superhero over another, but if I had a superpower, I would want the ability to control time just so I could get more sleep.

Recently, I’ve been really struggling to get out of bed not only during the work week, but on the weekends too. My alarm goes off and there’s this deep existential dread that just washes over me. I haven’t been feeling refreshed when I wake up and I’ve been staying in bed until the absolute latest I possibly can. From the moment I gain consciousness in the morning, I’m already fantasizing about when I can climb back into my bed and go to sleep. 

I think sleeping is great. I enjoy my dreams. I enjoy having a break from making decisions and spending money. I enjoy not having any responsibilities or having to do anything besides exist, and above all, I enjoy allowing my body to fully relax. 

Stress is a never-ending part of life. It’s liable to rear its ugly head at any point in time and during any activity. It doesn’t matter if you’re making dinner for your family, traveling, or working, you can count on something being stressful eventually. Realistically, each day is a marathon of completing tasks and fulfilling responsibilities that all have to be addressed before we’re allowed rest. 

Unfortunately, the grind doesn’t stop just because we’re exhausted. Usually we have to push through things just to get to the end of our days. Whether that’s feeding kids, walking dogs, working on a side hustle, or putting away those clean dishes in the dishwasher, there’s a nonstop list of things to be done before we can go to sleep at night. 

For my husband and I, our nighttime routine consists of washing any dirty dishes in the sink, letting our dogs outside one last time and brushing their teeth, taking showers, and depending on the day, ironing clothes and washing our hair. Most of the time, it’s a rush getting everything done before we crash from exhaustion. 

Simple mundane tasks can become increasingly draining as you get older. Driving to and from work is draining. Grocery shopping is draining. Cleaning up your house is draining. The never-ending nature of it all can really wreak havoc on your mentality if you let it simply because there’s a very limited amount of time for you to truly rest and relax. 

Sometimes, it can be incredibly difficult staying positive and full of energy when you’re literally just going through the motions for everything. Usually that’s accompanied by the feeling of being burned out and in desperate need of a break from the norm. That’s why it’s so important to find enjoyable things in your life to avoid getting upset with the monotony of reality. Unfortunately, life is extremely repetitive and boring sometimes but it’s up to us to find and create that new spark.  

When I’m asleep, I don’t have to worry about making any decisions that could lead to unfavorable outcomes or suffer any negative consequences. I can simply exist. With the stress of life constantly beating you down, sleeping is definitely a nice break from reality and is absolutely necessary for your sanity.  

When I was in college, I designated the window of 2 to 5 pm as my naptime each afternoon. I definitely didn’t sleep for three hours every single day, but it was there as a block of time if I needed it. Many times I’d turn on Spongebob and watch a few episodes until I drifted off to sleep for a little while. It helped my mood, especially when I was exhausted from my classes or my morning workout. 

I always set an alarm and made myself get up by 5 pm so none of my obligations or responsibilities would fall by the wayside in case I overslept. 5 pm was also a good enough time to wake up so I’d be sleepy again for bedtime. For the afternoons when I didn’t need a nap, I would try to be productive by working on my RA bulletin board or getting my nails done. 

Now that I’m older, I don’t take nearly as many naps as I used to. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the time. I would love to have a dedicated window carved out as an emergency naptime, but that’s just not the reality I live in. 

There’s only certain, specific circumstances when I can indulge in a nap. The first is if I’m sick or have a migraine, since sleep always does the trick to help me feel better. The second is if we have the time to spare. My husband and I are so strict about staying on our routine and maximizing our efficiency that there’s little to no free unaccounted time. 

There’s almost always something for us to do, clean, or work on to fill our days. It’s extremely rare that we get a moment where everything has already been done, we’re ahead of schedule, and we have time to just chill on the couch. I try my best to take advantage of those moments since they are definitely few and far in between. 

I’ve noticed that if I’m constantly moving around all day, as soon as I sit down and be still for like 20 minutes or so, I start drifting off into my dreams. It’s really bad when I try to watch a movie because as much as I try my best to stay awake and attentive, eventually I’ll end up dozing off. I physically nod my head as I try to fight my sleep, but there are moments when I just can’t fight it anymore. Once I wake up, I catch my second wind, but it’s insane how being sleepy can really overtake you and make you completely incoherent to the world around you. 

I used to only be able to fall asleep in certain conditions, but now, I try to take advantage of all the rest I can get. I prefer the room to be dark but if it isn’t, I use an eye mask. I can’t sleep in complete silence so the background noise of a fan or an air purifier is a must. I also prefer for the room to be extremely cold so I can snuggle into the covers instead of sweating to death in a steamy hot room. And finally, I need my two pillows for my neck and my knees. 

Once I have all that, I’m all set to drift into the creativity of my mind. Getting ready to sleep is one of my favorite activities because there’s a set routine that helps calm and center me after a long day. Everynight, it’s the same exact thing. There’s no real variation, no extensive thinking involved, and I can wholeheartedly expect the same results nightly. 

For me personally, sleep is extremely important. It not only helps you physically by giving you more energy, but it fortifies you both mentally and emotionally as well. While I feel like I don’t get nearly enough sleep, I will say I get an adequate amount to get me through my days. It’s definitely hard to prioritize sleep when there’s just so many things to do within a day. Time, unfortunately, can really slip by you if you let it. 

If you enjoyed this episode, let me know by giving this video a thumbs up, leaving a comment, and subscribing to my channel. I’ll see you in the next episode! 

 

Signed, 

Jessica Marie