sleep regularly

While my twins are still babies, there’s no way this is going to happen. Best just to accept it and move on.

for four night in a row. That in and of itself is the only thing I can do, because sleep only comes if it wants to. I’m focused in on this goal, and will stay dedicated to making sure I get back a routine of going to bed reasonably and setting myself up for getting the proper amount of sleep.

I went to bed about 10:30, but couldn’t get to sleep until about 1:30 a.m. I think it was due to my knees and back hurting because I wore the wrong shoes to do an afternoon full of shopping. I woke up several times due to discomfort. But, I did rest, and that was important. I’m going to shoot for going to bed a little early tonight.

I decided that I’d do this benedryl-free. I went to bed about 11:45 p.m., and woke up a few times because I was way too hot. The place I was staying keeps their heat higher than I do. I think were it not for the temperature and the bed being a lot softer than mine, I may have stayed asleep. But, I got up about 7:30-ish. So, that’s about 7:45 total interrupted sleep. It wasn’t too bad. I’m going to try this drug-free again, tonight. (I did a lot of shopping and driving and riding today, so I should be tired enough anyway.)

I went to bed at 11:35 p.m. because I’d had a night out with my coworkers. The night was very interesting to say the least. (I’m still not really sure what I think of some of them outside of work.) So, I took the benedryl even though it was late, because my mind was really spinning. I tossed and turned for about an hour on the couch while I was watching tv (usually that’ll put me out easily, but that night it didn’t). So around 12:35 a.m. I went to my bed and fell asleep until 6:30 a.m. I rolled over and went back to bed until 8:45 a.m. So a little over 8 hours of interrupted sleep. I’ll be out-of-town tonight, so I’m going to try to do this without sleep medication and see what happens. I don’t want it to affect my driving home tomorrow.

I took the benedryl although not the maximum dose, because when I saw what that actually was…I was fearful I’d stay asleep until Monday morning. (I took one teaspoon more than called for on the packaging I think [which is much lower than the np’s range]. I get the children’s liquid so I can cut the dose usually, because it normally does make me sleep too much.) I went to sleep on my couch at 8:50 p.m. and slept until 9:50. Then I got up and went to my bed and went to sleep about 9:55 and didn’t wake up until 12:15 a.m. Then I rolled over and went to sleep again and didn’t wake up until about 6:10 a.m. If my math is correct, that’s 9.5 hours of interrupted sleep. I feel so much better today, too! I want to take the Benedryl again tonight, maybe a higher dose to see if I can stay asleep all night…and maybe through the rest of the weekend, and see on Monday night how I am without it or at a much lower dose. I won’t graduate this goal, however, until I’m doing it drug-free, because I don’t believe in using drugs to sleep long-term.

I’m going to check for a zip code for one of my Christmas cards I need to send out, finish giving out all my cheers, and check my other e-mail account. Then I’m getting off the computer, going to my apartment and going to take the maximum dose of benedryl I can (I checked with the nurse practitioner I work with about this for my reccomendation). Then I’m going to fix up my couch and fix dinner and watch tv/work on Christmas cards until I’m sleepy…which shouldn’t be long with benedryl. I just hope I can get up tomorrow morning.

has totally messed up my sleep regularly goal. I’ve never slept this irregularly in my life involuntarily. I’m miserable and in desperate need of getting more sleep! I hope that I can get back to normal after tonight…tonight is my last dose of that forsaken medicine (which I plan to never take again).

Goal defining: Get at least 4 hours of sleep at one time and increase to minimally interrupted 7 hours of sleep at one time. I can use a sleep aid for a few nights if I have to (I’ll be using Benedryl) so that I can jumpstart my goal. Bedtime will be no later than midnight (unless something extremely important like work or an emergency comes up) on weekends and vacations. I also need to go to bed before 11 p.m. on work nights. I’m also saying I need to be in my apartment no later than 10 p.m. on worknights, too (which means I won’t be on the Internet…hold me accountable to this if I stray at all!). To track this goal, I’ll report in what time I go to bed and how much sleep I’m getting. Goal accomplishment will be when I can get four nights of 7 hours with minimal interruptions of sleep in a row. Exceptions: There are to be no voluntary exceptions to my rules except for emergencies. An involuntary exception is when something work-related happens to interrupt or prevent me from going to bed or get sleep. Natural consequences of not doing this goal are enough for motivation…however I invite anyone to encourage or hold me highly accountable through the duration of this goal.

This has got to get accomplished soon or else I might lose my mind! :-/ (I’m trying to convince myself I’m just being dramatic, but I actually think it might actually happen.)

Good luck to me! :)

In my afternoon news e-mail, there is yet another article about sleep. Exercise has been forcing the sleep issue for me, so I’m doing a lot better this week. To read the article yourself, go here to link to it.

past 4 p.m.! I tell my clients this all the time, and why I thought I was the exception to this yesterday I don’t know. I had two glasses of unsweet tea for dinner and while I was on the road a Diet Dr. Pepper fountain drink to soothe my sore throat. I tossed and turned until about 2 a.m. I went to bed at 10 p.m., too! :( Let’s just say that natural consequences were in full force today! Be careful with caffeine if you limit your intake at night or during the day…it will interfere with your sleep.