Maybe Sleep is Overrated

I don’t know why, but I haven’t been sleeping well.  My schedule is totally off this summer and I’m not sure how I’ll get back on track.  For example, I managed to get to bed at a decent hour before the workshop I taught on Tuesday and got up at 6:00 a.m. that day.  Did the workshop all day which was exhausting, but managed to keep up for my date that night.  I left his house around 9:30 and felt tired and tried to go to bed around 10:30 but I couldn’t fall asleep.  My mind races and I can’t shut it down.  Maybe it’s the new dating thing that fills me with worry - “Does he really like me?”  “Is the chemistry there?”  “Will he email me or text me tomorrow?”  “When will we get to go out again?” “He didn’t reply to my last text – is something wrong or is he just busy?”  I really try not to be obsessive/compulsive about it, but I think to some degree we never really grow out of our teenage crush status – we just try to tone it down a bit.  Then there’s the thoughts about school coming up and how I don’t think there’s time to get everything done and my final paper that is due tomorrow, then there’s the fact that I need to find a new vet for my pets because the one I’ve been using is semi-retired and it’s tough to get an appointment.  So lately I’ve been trying to go to bed around 10:30 or 11:00 but I’m still awake at midnight and often 1:00 a.m.  I don’t sleep soundly so I toss most of the night and then if I’m lucky, I’ll sleep again from about 7:00 a.m. until 9-something if there’s nothing I have to do.  Yesterday, I had to get up early-ish after limited sleep and go up to the school to work and I was going to stay in the afternoon, but was so tired I couldn’t concentrate.  I came home and took a nap at noon.  So that throws off the possibility of getting to sleep early last night.  I guess it’s a vicious cycle. 

Today I am going to finish my paper.  I need to edit my last draft and add a final paragraph to the paper.  After that, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.  I need to start cleaning the house, but why do that when you can put it off?