Last night I could have stayed up late (didn’t need to get up early today) but crashed into bed fairly early and was out in a matter of seconds.
Tonight, however, I should already be in bed as I do have to get up early tomorrow, but I am not tired one iota.
I know if I go to bed I will just lay there and my mind will start wandering in all those bizarre directions; “Why is grass green?” “Did I remember to pay the gas bill?” “Swine flu sounds like a German cuss word.” “If my fingernails itched, how would I scratch them?”
All the while screaming inside my head, “Shut up and go to sleep!” and two seconds later that other part of my brain is thinking, “Did I remember to lock the door…” “Do birds fart?” “I think my fingernail just itched…”
I just tried to scratch my fingernails, thanks a lot!
As someone that works the graveyard shift and hates it, I know all about the ‘I should sleep know but can’t because I want to be awake’ feeling. What I do in situations like that is just try to concentrate on my heartbeat, and listen to it. It invariably speeds up and gets louder, but eventually it calms down and I fall asleep.
Sleep is inconvenient. It never is here when I want it. Last night I was up til three. I did not want to sleep. Tonight I have to finish up a 1200 word essay. I want to sleep. 637 words and counting…
I can sympathize. I’ve suffered from bouts of insomnia for the past few years. If I don’t take some Tylenol PM or something I’m likely to be wide awake until 5AM, meaning I’ll get about 4 hours of sleep. I’ll be exhausted the next day, but perk right back up again around 10PM for another night of sleeplessness.
People who can sleep at will don’t understand how good they have it.