My Most Pleasurable Fantasy: Sleep!

Family Friday

When your day begins with a three-year-old prying your eyelids open with her fingers and ends with an unfinished to-do list, good sleep remains the ultimate unattainable fantasy.

During meetings, I fantasize about all kinds of sleep.   Sleep on the beach, with the moon rising over the water.  Sleep on a huge comfy couch in my office, with the door closed and business purring along without me.  Sleep in my own bed, without screams, snoring, or my alarm.

Long ago in the 1990s, the appeal of coffee eluded me.  A college friend fed me some coffee once while I wrote a particularly challenging paper, and it took me two days to come down.  I didn't touch it for years after that.  Well into adulthood, I believed that caffeine cravings were just a quirky character flaw.

This all changed when I crossed the parenting threshold.  Never had I truly known fatigue until I birthed and nursed three children.  I don't remember exactly how the coffee thing started, but I soon found that nothing else could tame the furballs beneath my eyelids. 

But some days, even coffee doesn't really work.  Today, for instance, I was driving to work and found myself literally holding my eyes open with my fingers.  I guess I have my daughter to thank for that trick.

And I absolutely will not consume more than two cups of coffee per day, as any more than that turns me into a Shrieking Eel - ask my husband.  (I do know people who routinely down eight or nine cups a day, but something tells me that just isn't right).  Clearly, more coffee is not the answer.

Here is some advice that I have found somewhat helpful. 

• In the "duuhhh" category: get more sleep!  Cut out the TV, read fewer chapters of your book, and get to bed earlier.
• In the "very easy to say but...." category:  watch your diet.  Sugar can give you a short-term energy buzz, but crashes and crankiness typically leave you worse off than before.  Try cutting the sugar and eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  (And yes, for those of you who know me, I am a hypocrite, but the times I have tried this it has worked). 

So I have given you two somewhat tepid pieces of advice.  Therefore, I am begging you for other ideas to (legally) fight fatigue.  Nutritionists, homeopaths, Energizer Bunnies, please weigh in! 

by Jenny Douglas Vidas

 

 

 

 

Comments

[JB Shoes]

Thanks,for this beautiful post and it's fascinating questions!
Something about a view opens up a world of possibility. I'm sure he'll enjoy it though and hope you raise LOADSAMONEY for your charity.
I am sure that he will absolutely love it. My son has done it a couple of times.