If you've been writing for any length of time, insomnia is inevitable. One of these days, you'll be in the middle of a perfectly wonderful dream, and your brain will wake you up. "Hey! Hey! I fixed your plothole! Grab a pen! Let's get to work!"
Sometimes you're lucky enough to go back to sleep. But if you're anything like me, you're wide awake. Once the muse has struck, you're stuck. It's 3:43 in the morning, and the squirrels in your Panda brain are running at the speed of light.
Not that I would be going through anything like that right now. Because that 3:43 AM is just some arbitrary time I pulled out of the ether. I was definitely not awakened from a nightmare last night. Especially not a nightmare about how my daughter left the rabbit cage open and the rabbit jumped from four feet straight onto the concrete floor. I most certainly did not wake up screaming, "Ah! Oreo!"
This also probably has nothing to do with the fact that I got a script last night that needs a polish and it's due ASAP. The two events are totally unrelated. I'm sure of it.
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| The rabbit, not the cookie. |
This also probably has nothing to do with the fact that I got a script last night that needs a polish and it's due ASAP. The two events are totally unrelated. I'm sure of it.
Ahem.
From one chronic insomniator to another, here are some suggestions.
Exercise
Not right now, not in the middle of the night. But on a regular basis, and in the mornings or afternoons. Exercise before bed has the tendency to keep you up, not let you relax. If I exercise before bed, it's some sort of relaxing yoga.
I missed a few days at the gym last week, and now I'm insomniating. Learn from my mistakes, Pandas. Watch and learn.
I missed a few days at the gym last week, and now I'm insomniating. Learn from my mistakes, Pandas. Watch and learn.
Tell Yourself to Stay Awake
Sounds counter-intuitive, I know. Just like concentrating on going to sleep keeps you awake, if you try to stay awake, sometimes it makes your brain shut off. Sometimes.
Drain Your Brain
Read, work on puzzles (I sudoku), and do whatever it takes to keep your brain going. If I can make it through a tough sudoku without falling asleep, I know it's inevitable. It's time to-
Shut up and Color
If it's been more than thirty minutes, you're probably in it for the long haul. What? Do you need a personal invitation? Get up and write already!
And then tweet at me on Twitter, because I'm probably already up.
If it's been more than thirty minutes, you're probably in it for the long haul. What? Do you need a personal invitation? Get up and write already!
And then tweet at me on Twitter, because I'm probably already up.
4 comments:
insomnia: it's a life-style.
Both Clay and I have struggled with insomnia (writing/stress/etc.) We've found Seditol to do a great job. All natural too. :-)
http://pureformulas.com/seditol-60-vegetable-capsules-by-pure-encapsulations.html
Vic: So true! It has finally gotten to the point where I have to accept it as a lifestyle.
Kristin: I'll have to look into it. It's hard being a single parent. I don't want to take something like Ambien that's going to knock me out all night.
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