Go to sleep earlier.

last night I went to bed before 12:30 for the first time in a while.however this was due to back pain – bad enough that I just couldn’t sit at the computer or on the couch to watch tv- nothing to do but go to bed. I called in sick for the first couple hours of the day to tend to my back and sleep some more.

well I did much better last night than the night before, though I still didn’t turn off tv/computer till about 12:30. but I was also paying bills and other important stuff (which I meant to do before 12 as well). I have gotten into watching Scrubs reruns at midnight- bad!! FYI it was really hot in Sf last night, all windows open and a fan running practically at my face. thankfully I had an easier time waking up this a.m. and was less than 10 min late for work, even with gathering a gym bag.

it is too addicting!! why must I go to a new site at midnight or thereabouts and start posting stuff? that’s what happened last night with Yelp. I am trying to get myself to turn off the computer & tv by 12, make a cup of “sleepytime” tea, to enjoy while I read something, then get ready for bed and read a page or 2 until I fall asleep (I have no problem falling asleep once I’m in bed). a few times I did this and really got a better night’s sleep, was able to get up more easily the next day too. gotta get back to that.

today I am finding out why I need to go to sleep earlier. maybe it hit me last week, when I got a 36 hr flu. so between 2 days off sick, one scheduled day off and the weekend, I had no caffeine (I can only handle a cup of tea per day). last night I got just a little over 5 hrs of sleep so I had a small cup of coffee today to stay awake. well, it feels like my blood pressure has shot through the roof. I tried eating food and drinking water but the feeling hasn’t gone away. I may go home sick! I can’t handle the caffeine so I HAVE to go to sleep earlier!

every time I go to sleep early (before 12:30 – rare) I end up staying up much later the following night. monday night it was 11:30 from exhaustion (fun weeeknd) and then last night it was 1:30. I just couldn’t turn off the computer!! at least I was able to get up at a decent time to make it to work on time today- set the alarm 20 min earlier than usual. makes sense, I am usually 20 min late for work.

one of my other “things” is taking relaxing baths. I did that at 11pm (for the first time in several months- but don’t worry, I take regular showers) and even though I procrastinated by doing some cooking after midnight, I still got in bed at 12:45. wow! this site is good motivation.

the hardest thing is turning off the computer and tv. if I can turn them off by midnight I’m lucky but still don’t go to sleep till at least 1 am (often 1:30). so tonight’s goal is screens off at 11:45 and push to be in bed by 12:30… maybe baby steps like this will help? that way my body will slowly make the change. too many mornings I fight myself to stay in bed and then get to work 15 minutes late.