Normally we meet here for “Manic Monday”, but because Monday was a holiday, I decided to take a vaycay from the computer. In fact, I’ve been pretty much computer free since Friday. Yay!
Sometimes you just need to do that. Take a breather from technology and let the REAL people in your everyday life know that you still want to devote your time and attention to them.
But it’s Tuesday, and I’m back. Back to the computer…..and back to a MOUNTAIN of laundry. GRRRR!!
Okay.
I gotta admit.
I have insomnia.
Bad!
So bad, that I frequently only get 4, or less, hours of sleep.
So bad, that I regularly go to bed after 2AM.
So bad, that if I wake up in the middle of the night, I’m pretty much up….for good.
I do take medication to help. But I can’t take it EVERY night. And besides…I don’t want to be tied to medicine to be able to get restful sleep.
I’ve read a lot of things to try and help. I’ve been putting the computer away earlier. Trying to wear myself out during the day. So far not a ton of success.
But I want to share the new thing I’m going to try.
(not because I have a success story yet…..but because I think it’s a COOL idea!!)
I started off with a notebook that I’m going to keep next to my bed, in my nightstand. It’s there ready for me to write down any thoughts I have, ideas I wake up with, or “to-do” things that strike me in the night. (or anything else that it making it so I can’t sleep.
Of course I found a super cute one. Because who wants to write down a brilliant idea in an ugly notebook?
This one is by Mead. And has a totally cute pattern, with a magnetic closure strip. LOVE IT!
Then I got some self-adhesive label holders and made labels for the categories I wanted in my “thoughts journal”. You could put anything that plagues your brain at night.
Mine has things like:
- To Do: House
- To Do: Blog
- Ideas: Decorating
- Ideas: Blog
- Thoughts & Dreams
- Lists
- Sketching
- Gratitude
Those are just the ones I felt that I’d use. You could do any that you think you’d like to put in yours. It’s SO customizable!
Then, of course, I couldn’t just leave it like I bought it!
What?
Of course not!
I added a little elastic lace loop for my pen, and my initial, and some turquoise ric-rac.
I don’t know of many items that aren’t improved with a little turquoise ric-rac.
I’m thinking of adding some to my toilet.
(these are the jokes, folks. Don’t write and tell me that toilet ric-rac is a bad idea.)
And last night, at midnight, when I was still wide awake….I took ten minutes to write a list of re-organizations that I want to do. It doesn’t mean that I’m doing them for sure. It just means I didn’t have to sit and think about them.
I don’t have a miracle story, like how I wrote this list and immediately went into peaceful slumber.
But I do have a pretty list.
And a pretty book.
And something to do while I’m up doing nothing……
I’d love to know what you do to cure your insomnia! I’m open to just about anything at this point!
I think this sounds like a good idea. I suffer from insomnia, too. My doctor told me that waking in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep is one of the major signs of depression. He put me on some mild depression meds that actually ended up helping. Mine was a more stress induced anxiety. The list thing helped me a lot, too. Here’s hoping you get some good zzzz’s! And, believe me, if you need a shoulder, I am here!
Thank you so much! I think one of my medications is actually contributing to the sleeplessness. Boo! But I’m definitely trying to de-stress as much as possible. Good Luck to you!
Lara- I need to do this!! Maybe it would help me feel like I don’t have to worry about xy & z. That’s my biggest prob with going to bed….I feel like I have 5 million things to do and my brain can’t shut down.
I love what you did! xoxo
Me too. My brain gets going so much, it actually makes my heart race. I’ve had to get up an pay bills at 4AM just to make sure. So sad!
I love this Lara! Now just if I could stick to it. ugh!
Me too. It was mostly just an excuse to buy a notebook….let’s be honest.
love. I too have to have a place to write down all the swirling thoughts that go through my head as soon as i lie down in the quiet. I have to go to bed like an hour before….cause it takes me that long to wind down.
Me too! Or longer. Boo. But maybe I’ll burn off some energy with writing, and NOT on the computer.
two that I’ve heard and have tried on occasion:
-if you’re a computer person, imagine that all the thoughts in your head are icons on a desktop. One by one, click&drag them to the recycling bin.
-relax every part of your body systematically. Toes… feet… calves… knees… you get it. Focus on relaxing each part, breathing deeply the whole time. Either the relaxing or the monotony might just get to you.
The only one that has been sucessful for me is
- have a baby and a toddler. Neither hell nor high water will prevent me from falling quickly to sleep. The medication is much cheaper though.
I also like to have a glass of wine before bed with the hubby to have a little bonding time, and the wine relaxes me just enough that it’s easier for me to fall asleep.
So many good ones, Laura! I do the relaxation one. And I can get through my whole body 3 or 4 times. If I counted sheep, I’d have a giant herd!
Ooh…I could use one of these. I too have insomnia…BAD!!! In fact, when I’m laying in bed staring at the ceiling at 2:00 in the morning tomorrow, I think I’ll make one.
Nice. Been there. Sorry.
We can both try it and cross our fingers that this helps.
OK here’s what I do. I only have mild insomnia and really my biggest problem is falling asleep and then getting back to sleep when I wake up. My golden hour is 5am, my body loves to wake me up at that point. Anyway, I have a scenario that I replay in my head every night. It’s like a movie in my head and I’m a character and it’s the same thing every night and I usually fall asleep at the same point but if it doesn’t work then I just start over again. It usually takes me between 45 to sixty minutes to fall asleep this way. It’s not perfect but its so much better. I think I read this in women’s health magazine or something like that but it was YEARS ago. Good luck, oh and I won’t tell you what my scenario is because it’s way too dorky but I can tell you that I tried not to make it too exciting so that I’m overstimulated. Oh, also I’ve found that yoga before bed is good. Brush your teeth and all that stuff and then do forty minutes of RELAXING yoga. So good.
That’s so awesome. I used to do that as a teenager. Maybe I need to go back to that. My movie always involved some boy I would have fall in love with me, though. I think it got old after I got married.
I still love that you shared this.
I adore your notebook and will be making one ASAP. Perfect solution to those late night “brilliant” ideas of mine not getting away!
As for insomnia….have you, um, tried reading your scriptures? They unfortunately work like a swift kick to my head as far as sleep goes. I particularly recommend Isaiah.
I’m just kidding! (kinda).
Love it!! And I bet it would help. And even if it didn’t, at least I’d be getting in some good reading. Then I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about missing it. Hmmm…..might need to think about this one….thanks!
I feel for you – I have insomnia too. I can’t possibly take a nap during the day – even 15 minutes and I’ll be awake until 2-3am easily.
But, lately I’ve pulled out my iPod touch at night. There’s a “jeweled” game. It’s the MOST mundane game ever. Brainless. But, it requires not thought and for some reason it makes my eyes SO tired that eventually I notice I’m starting to fall asleep playing it. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes (hee hee) but when I do fall asleep I actually sleep versus waking up in an hour. it’s not a cure-all, but for some reason, that’s what’s helped me. Maybe there’s something you can do to make your eyes tired and your brain shut off. The notebook is a good start. I’ve done that in the past and just wrote until my pen was sliding across the page. That worked awesome for me in college. Good luck!
I can’t nap either! And I’m married to a NAPPER! It may have caused a few issues on a Sunday afternoon. Just sayin’
Oh yeah – humming too. I know that’s totally stupid sounding, but just hum something – anything – not even a song you’ve heard – and don’t stop. Just start humming and I’ve found I’ll fall asleep without even knowing it. And tell your husband “you’re welcome” from me when he’s wondering what’s going on.
And this would be HILARIOUS! He snores so loud, he’d never hear me anyway.
Part of the insomnia might be your husband’s snoring. Have you tried earplugs? Even if he’s not snoring, I find that when my mind is racing and I can’t sleep, any noise is enough to stimulate me more. So I stick in the earplugs and the noise goes away and I usually sleep much better.
Going to sleep is my problem also. My best ideas which some nights work better than others are taking a nice warm bath right befor getting in bed and reading some gentle fiction. I recently have had some good success with an iPod / iPhone / iPad app called sleep stream which gives guided meditations to help you go to sleep.
Maybe I need to look into that. I’m open to anything at this point. And my Mom used to always put her feet in warm water. I forgot about that…
oh that is such an awesome idea! i often think up stuff at night and then forget about it by morning!
Me too. I also think of things that SEEM brilliant at 3AM and then, not so much in the morning.
But oh well, at least I tried.
I’m so sorry about this, Lara! It is awful to really want to sleep, and your body won’t let you. But you know who else has insomnia? Martha Stewart, and look at all she has accomplished!
Look Out Martha! Here comes Sleepless in Utah Ellie G!
ps. Love me some ricrac!
pps. can you believe we passed up all that awesome ricrac in AZ? We have to go back there!
She also went to jail. So there’s two goals for me.
I KNOW! I may have had a dream about going there again. I just used some of my grey elastic lace today, and I’m using the melon colored lace this week too. Could we justify a quick trip….just for ric rac? We totally could! Right?
I love how you make your notebooks so pretty, you inspire me! I’m sorry sleeping is so difficult for you. I don’t know your faith, but scripture reading is definitely worth trying when you can’t sleep. Also, try writing out your prayers and prayer requests for you, your family and friends. Write out your praises to God and answered prayers in your life. One friend I know chooses a chapter in the Bible to memorize. She writes out the entire chapter every night until it’s memorized, or she’s asleep. I’m a believer in the power of prayer. I’m saying a prayer for you tonight!
Great ideas, Michelle. And what a sweet thought. Thank you!
So sorry to hear about your insomnia. Mine comes and goes, and right now I’m doing okay.
Question for you – where did you find the self-adhesive label holders that you mentioned? I’ve already got a similar notebook to yours and am just using paperclips as dividers and would love to find something better.
Thanks – and good luck. Maybe some of the great tips I read above will help you with you sleeplessness.
You can find them at just about any store, Sally. They are clear and have sticky strips along one side so you can put them ANYWHERE. I usually get them in the office isle. And I think these were from Avery.
Lara,
I really think that you need to take some advise from Scarlet, one of your favorite characters. “Tomorrow is another day.” Forget everything and go to sleep.
On the flip side, I have watched you and Ben deal with this for a long time and I am really sorry. Maybe one of the suggestions will help. I love you.
Mom
Thanks Mom! Love you. (almost as much as I love Scarlett O’Hara….almost)
Such a great idea!! I just have a big notebook thats not organized by section. I think I’d keep better track of my ideas if I used the tabbed dividers!
I also have a touch of insomnia… I feel for ya! I started keeping a notepad next to my bed, then when I got ideas when I was trying to sleep I could jot them down and not be stressed I’d forget them in the morning.
Lara! I seriously bought this exact journal a couple of weeks ago! I found it sitting on a shelf and couldn’t find the price tag on it…I had to have it so I went up to the manager and he said I could have it for $1.50. So funny you have the same one!! Love this idea of organizing thoughts!!
You have such an awesome blog!
insomnia used to be a friend of mine.
now that I have an honorary degree in OT from dealing with my son, I realize “heavy work” during the day is necessary to shut my brain down at night. that means a 3 mile walk, gardening for an hour, yoga, etc. without these things, I require less than four hours sleep.
believe it or not, my insomnia improved once I learned I was gluten-intolerant. now that my diet is a lot cleaner and less inflammatory…I sleep better.
i think your journal is a great idea b/c writing those looping lists down make them disappear….
I did 8 hours of gardening today. We’ll see how the night goes.
Thanks!
Is your insomnia thyroid related? Because my mom had sleep problems for awhile and now, she takes thyroid medicine and she SLEEPS LIKE A DREAM. OK, maybe bad metaphor, but it works.
I don’t know. My Mom has thyroid problems. I haven’t had mine checked for a long time. That might be a good idea. Thanks!
Hi there,
I go to bed at 2 am nearly every night. But the thing that does help is I pray for people. I start w the letter A and pray for everyone I can think of starting w/that letter. Then on to the B’s. Maybe if you can try this it will help. Satan does NOT want us praying for others so his obvious solution is to make us sleepy. Good luck.
Here are two suggestions:
1) Meditation. It really is something that you have to learn (take a class if you have one available to you.). But if not, do try to start with 10 minutes of deep breathing, envisioning yourself on a calm, all-expenses paid vacation (do this at bedtime AND during a different part of your day). Over time meditation is an incredible tool.
2) As you lie in bed for sleep, recall your day…backwards! You don’t have to do a play-by-play, but hit everything you can remember without exerting too much energy thinking. Really. Try it for awhile & let me know what you thought of one or either.
I know how frustrating it is to have insomnia!
Happy Zzzzzz’s.
Awesome idea! And I totally think the toilet would be improved with the ric rac
Love your personalized notebook!
I found your blog while browsing on my phone bc its 4:30 am and – you guessed it – I can’t sleep. I have tried a notebook, they just seem to keep swirling after I write them down (the thoughts I mean). I burn lavender oil, sometimes that helps (though clearly not tonight). And (if this is TMI or taboo please feel free to delete) sometimes a really great orgasm (or several) helps (too bad my partner is busy sawing logs lol).