Friday, March 09, 2007

Loving Insomnia


Okay, I said I wouldn't be blogging much. But here I am again. That's what happens when you're a blogging junkie. Is there a cure for blog addiction? Do I want one?

Oh, probably not.

Anyway. About insomnia. I get it. On occasion. I used to hate it. But now,well, I've kind of made peace with it. I've learned to love my insomnia.

You know how it happens. You go to sleep at your regular time. And then, somewhere in the darkest part of the night--you're awake. Used to be when that happened to me, I'd fight it. I'd try so hard to go back to sleep. And you know how it is when you put a lot of effort into an activity--no way do you then drift into peaceful slumber.

So enough with the trying. I have a fresh, new approach. I surrender to my insomnia. I go with the flow. I mean, if I'm going to be awake anyway, me and my mind are going to have a good time.

Thus, as I lie there, eyes staring wide, I ponder the mysteries of the universe. I fix every plot hole in my Work In Progress. I rehearse acceptance speeches for awards I've yet to win. I rewrite the endings of movies that didn't quite work for me. I let my insomnia have its way with me. I lie back and enjoy it.

Sometimes, after an hour or two of insomni-mania, I just fade back to sleep with a self-satisfied smirk on my face, having won the RITA at last and also found a way to end world hunger.

Last night? Not so much. I was awake for three hours, at least, when I should have been sleeping. So today, I've got a million things I want to accomplish and I'm starting out tired.

But it's all right. I did so much last night, after all, when the rest of the world was off in dreamland. I can't exactly recall all the things I worked out in my mind, but I know I did...work them out. I know all the solutions will come to me. Maybe when I'm not so tired.


How about you? Get insomnia now and then? How do you deal with it?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't have insomnia, if do wake during the night I usually go back to sleep but feel as though it's a light sleep but do dream so it must be deeper than that LOL

My problem is not being able to get to sleep occasionally but it seems to be only when I need to get to bed early. I get lots of reading done then so it's OK! ;)

Paz Edwards said...

I'm glad you're blogging! I thing it's really cool.

Luckily, I don't have insomnia. I wouldn't be able to function if I did. I don't get enough sleep as it is.

Paz

Anonymous said...

Christine,

When I get insomnia-and I do get it pretty often--I do a number of things. I am known to pull a favorite book off of the shelf and re-read...your Viking books are always a good choice in this situation. I don't usually start a new book, be/c I am not at my most alert at this point in the night.

When I was a caterer--I would plan out the next week's wedding--and try to anticipate the "bridezilla or mother of bridezilla" issues that would undoubtedly plague me in the not so distant future...but now that I am in sales/marketing/research--I start thinking about the next project or program that I need to start. Not usually too good at helping me fall back asleep! :-)

When all else fails--there is CNN...Anderson Cooper 360 is repeated in the middle of the night, and my personal opinion is that there can never be too much AC...yummy!

Husker Kim

Christine Rimmer said...

Kim, great suggestions. So true on AC. Smart and sexy, that guy. The Vikings, huh? Thank you!

Paz, you got in! So good to see you here. Re the blogging thing, I really do like it. Great sounding board, a place to ponder. Fun. And I get to schmooze with my pals.

Barb, there is the reading. I never read when I have insomia as I keep thinking if I actually turn on a light, I'll *never* get back to sleep. But I know the experts say you actually should go to another room and read or do some other waking, *peaceful* activity. Hmm....

Anonymous said...

If I awake during the night and know I'm will not sleep for awhile, I pull out a book and read until, I'm tired!

DurangoKim