Reader here! I’ve been back at work for a couple of days after my ten-day vacation, and I have to admit… I’m still having trouble getting back into my routine.
In particular, I’m having a hard time getting back into my normal sleep routine.
After ten days off, without having to set an alarm, I was able to sleep in every day. At the same time, the closer I got to returning from my vacation, the harder it was falling asleep at night. In fact, the last couple of nights I was at the farm, I didn’t crash out until 4:30-5:00 in the morning.
And after I got back to my place in Yorkton on Monday night, I didn’t sleep at all that night. I won’t lie… getting through work on Tuesday morning was a bit tough…
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, I was able to sleep for a few hours between work and band practice, and then I got a couple more hours after rehearsal wrapped up.
Things are starting to get back to normal, luckily. I actually have a pretty odd sleep routine, anyway.
My alarms normally start going off around 3 a.m., and after hitting snooze a couple of times, I roll out of bed around 3:30-3:40 a.m.. Go through my morning routine, and I’m usually in the office around 4 a.m. or just after.
I work the morning show and newsroom shift, and then after work, I go home, have a bite to eat, crash out for an hour or two pn Ol’ Couchy, and then I carry on with my day, until bedtime, which is anywhere from 11 p.m to 12:30 a.m., before the whole routine starts all over again.
It’s pretty much the way I’ve done things for 15 years, since I started on my morning adventure, and it seems to work for me, but I know it wouldn’t work for everyone.
My biggest problem is often getting to sleep. Even though I’m often tired, I can’t fall asleep as quickly as I’d like. Often, it seems like my brain is working overtime, and won’t settle down.
I did a little search for tips on how to fall asleep, and here were some suggestions:
- Create a cozy bedtime ritual by winding down at the same hour every night, even on weekends, to help your body find its natural rhythm.
- As the evening sets in, dim the lights and put away your phone—let your mind gently slow. (This is a tough one – it’s so easy to scroll before bed!)
- Make your bedroom a sanctuary: cool, quiet, and inviting, with soft blankets and blackout curtains if you need them. (I have no windows in my bedroom. Check.)
- Skip caffeine, heavy meals, and late-night snacks to avoid tossing and turning. Instead, savor a soothing tea or dive into a good book. (Guilty as charged. I’m definitely a late night snacker. And Coke Zero is an anytime drink for me. I do love a good book, though!)
- Try gentle stretches, journaling, or calming music to ease tension from the day. (Music does help. See below.)
- Deep breaths or a few minutes of meditation can melt away stress and prepare you for restful sleep. (I try some breathing exercises… maybe I just need to work at it a bit more.)
One thing I do use, and I find it helps more when I nap in the afternoon, is putting on some music or calming noise of some sort, to help my drift off. Usually, I go to YouTube and find long videos of thunderstorms, campfires, various white or brown noise, or some soft music, like instrumental jazz. Here’s an example:
Nice, right?
What helps you drift off to Dreamland? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
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