Insomnia and retirement

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I seem to have gotten a reprieve my insomnia. I went back to work part time in the evening at a volunteer position. After struggling with mostly 2 1/2 to 4 hours sleep for the past 3 years as soon as I went back to work my sleep pattern went back to normal as did my bowels. The change was immediate.

I am trying to figure out exactly what aspect of working it is that allows me to sleep and stay asleep. The physical work I am doing as a volunteer is not much more than I would be doing at home. I am only working 3 days a week but am still sleeping normaly on the 4 days I have off. Trying to list the differences produces a small list even if I stertch it a bit.

Less computer time, less TV time, more standing and walking, more interaction with others as I am working with the public. I am getting a considerable amount of positive feedback from the oppsite sex but it may not be relevant here. Being a little better about my shaving, showering and grooming ( I admit I have been slipping).
I am working a swing shift and do drink coffee on my shift as I did durring my working days. Thats about all I can come up with, any other possible things I might be missing or should look at. I would like to feel I coupld duplicate what it is that allows me to sleep if I decide to quit volunteering.

I get home at 10:30 pm, about 30 min on the computer. I go to bed and am asleep in less than 15 min. Pretty solid 4 hours, wake up get a snack and go back for 3 or more good hours of sleep. I feel like my solution is right in front of me if I can figure it out.

2

Even Ellen Degeneress talked on her show about “being bound” (that’s my wordage) since she gave up coffee. After some weeks she went back to drinking it and reported All Systems Go. Enjoy your coffee, whenever.

You seem to thrive on being active, useful and involved. “Retirement” isn’t for you. Be glad for it and keep finding outlets for your spirit. I would say you’re a real go-get-'er but that leads me to a joke a quiet mountain woman (with a sharp eye) told me once about a neighbor: she said He’s a real go-get-'er. Every morning he takes his wife to work and every afternoon he goes and gets her.
It may be an old joke but it was new to me and delighted her.

Sounds like you’d rather do it yourself, so do! It’s good for you and good for the world. Keep on keeping on and let 'er fly.

3

It could be that you need that stimulus of being out and about with others for part of your time, getting the social connection. And now that you’ve got it again through volunteering, your body has settled into its old rhythm?

4

So resuming work has fixed your insomnia and your bowels. Sounds fair, I know plenty of people who’s job puts them to sleep and gives them the shits.