Monday, March 22, 2010

the mind/body split

I am writing this post at 1:35 a.m. on Sunday night/Monday morning. I am wide-awake. Why? Because my body decided it needed to hibernate all day and entered another sleep marathon. There was actually something I wanted to do this morning, and even though I set the obnoxious alarm, I don't remember shutting it off. I woke up all cramped up on the couch despite falling asleep last night in my bed. I was all cramped because every.single.dog managed to squeeze onto the couch with me.

I admit that I am really touched by their devotion to their human and quite impressed with their contortionist abilities.

It was raining today, so I had no desire to be outside. I puttered around the house a bit, finished reading Home is Where the Wine Is by Laurie Perry, and finished up a pair of socks (Gansey Socks from Socks from the Toe Up, knit out of STR lightweight, Pond Scum colorway).

Deeply exhausted by such strenuous activities as reading and knitting, I fell asleep again. I woke up much less cramped and deeply rested. It was also 9pm.

My mind is having no luck at convincing my body that while yes, sleep is necessary, and while hibernation-style sleeping is one way of coping with the current crop of life's stresses, sleeping through the alarm on a work day is only going to yield more problems. Catch up on weekends if necessary. Not weekdays!! So I don't dare try to lay down at all right now because I'm terrified that I will sleep through the triple defense system that I've got set up right now (two alarms, set to go off one hour apart, plus a friend who calls me at around 6:30 a.m.)

I never thought I'd yearn for insomnia but at least that's is a slightly more socially acceptable sleep disorder, since at least if you are awake, you can make it into work.

1 comment:

L J said...

I suppose that insomnia IS preferable to narcolepsy as far as getting to work is concerned. Hugs! Hope your body sorts out your sleep cycles soon.