Up until recently, sleep deprivation was the norm for my life. So much so, that I had become numb to the daily pain and suffering of my overtaxed body. My mind had completely turned a deaf ear to my body begging for a night of restorative slumber. I knew things weren't right, of course, but I had sadly adjusted to living life perpetually exhausted and fuzzy-minded. Such is no longer the case though. (see blog entry: Chasing My Dreams)
Happily, once I started "Project Sleepy Time," my body immediately fell right back into a regular sleep routine. As it turns out, enjoying a restful night's sleep is like riding a bicycle - your body never forgets how to do it, no matter how much time has passed. Finally, after my first full night of restful sleep in years, I was back on my sleepy-time bike and off to the races in slumber town! However, at this point in my life, I have learned to expect some bumps in the road. This week was no exception...
It was already a crazy week for me, when a new neighbor and his 5 dogs moved in next door. I clearly love all animals. I have a dog and a cat, and if space and community guidelines permitted, I would have a few farm animals up in here as well. As long as a person has the means and the heart to care for them properly, I fault no one for having a menagerie of pets in their home. The issue is, the adorable neighbor pups were a little scared/nervous in their new home the first few nights. They barked all night long...for two nights solid. I slept not a wink. Crikey.
Happily, once I started "Project Sleepy Time," my body immediately fell right back into a regular sleep routine. As it turns out, enjoying a restful night's sleep is like riding a bicycle - your body never forgets how to do it, no matter how much time has passed. Finally, after my first full night of restful sleep in years, I was back on my sleepy-time bike and off to the races in slumber town! However, at this point in my life, I have learned to expect some bumps in the road. This week was no exception...
It was already a crazy week for me, when a new neighbor and his 5 dogs moved in next door. I clearly love all animals. I have a dog and a cat, and if space and community guidelines permitted, I would have a few farm animals up in here as well. As long as a person has the means and the heart to care for them properly, I fault no one for having a menagerie of pets in their home. The issue is, the adorable neighbor pups were a little scared/nervous in their new home the first few nights. They barked all night long...for two nights solid. I slept not a wink. Crikey.
By the end of the week I was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I drove home from work Friday night, trying not to nod off along the way. Every plan I had for the evening went right out the window. Forget eating dinner. I was too tired to chew. Nightly yoga? Please. Unless it was to do savasana, otherwise known as the "corpse pose," this girl was not rolling out her sticky mat. I had just enough energy to walk my dog....and even that was questionable.
I was totally out of steam, so I decided to just give myself a break for one night. Guilt free. It wasn't like I was going to gorge on ice cream and pizza, or anything crazy like that. I was simply skipping yoga and dinner for one night. I needed more than just sleep. I needed a moment to zone out, do nothing, and deconstruct the week. I needed to trade in the time I would've normally spent on my preplanned agenda for some simple "me" time.
I washed my face, and brushed my teeth (as hygiene always trumps sleep), put on my fuzzy lounge pants, grabbed a cup of caffeine-free green tea (with stevia), and cuddled up on the couch with my pup. Then, I queued up my iTunes movies for a night of back-to-back old-school chick-flicks, and I was set.
I washed my face, and brushed my teeth (as hygiene always trumps sleep), put on my fuzzy lounge pants, grabbed a cup of caffeine-free green tea (with stevia), and cuddled up on the couch with my pup. Then, I queued up my iTunes movies for a night of back-to-back old-school chick-flicks, and I was set.
It felt wondrous! It was just what my body, soul, and mind needed. I was asleep before Bridget Jones could hook up with Hugh Grant at the launch party for "Kafka's Motorbike." I slept like a baby and awoke feeling happy, rested, and back on track.
Lesson learned: It's good to remain flexible....and not just in yoga. You never know what life will throw your way, but you also have to keep it real. Stop, catch your breath, jump back up on that bike, and keep peddling on!
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