I have just concluded day six of my day job and there are many thoughts running through my mind. The first being how damn tired I am. I know many of you that have not strayed from the 9 to 5 work world like yours truly are probably having a good laugh right now. Go ahead, you deserve it because I am truly impressed with your ability to tow the line. It sucks getting tired at 9:15, but makes sense because by now I have been awake 16 hours.
Yet, I am still making this entry after finishing my other freelance stuff and the clock ticks. What's more, I know I am hardly alone. In fact, the statistics are rather amazing - gotta love the Internets. Here are just some of the lovely effects of sleep deprivation.
Recent studies have shown that Americans sleep an average of 7 hours each night rather than the 8 hours recommended by sleep experts. Over time, this lack of sleep, can have serious effects on health and relationships. It may even be deadly. Deadly. I know you don't want to mess with a grumpy C$ in the morning.
What are the effects of sleep deprivation?
It isn't clear why we need sleep, but we do know that sleep is as important as food and water. Some experts think sleep helps the brain recharge its energy and store memories for the long term. Sleep also seems to help the body fight off infection. On the other hand, too much sleep can be as harmful as too little. Recent studies have shown that adults who get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night live longer and are less likely to get heart disease than those who sleep less or more.
So there you go. Prolly a bunch of crap y'all already know, but I would like to hear your sleep comments. I would also love to know how your nightly getting-to-sleep rituals, so share, won't you?
In honor of sleepytime, let's listen to one of my favorite bands of all time - Drink Me. Here is "Insomnia" because it is so fitting and "Grant's Tomb" simply because I love the song.
Sweet dreams you crazy kids.
Grant's Tomb
I love the euphoric/half-halucinatory effect of sleep deprivation. Especially after catching only four hours of sleep and then wandering through an entire day in a fog of nonsense.
To prepare to sleep I remove the contacts, wash the face, brush the teeth and then crawl into my coffin to await the sunset so that I may once again feed on the blood of mortals.
My girlfriend makes fun of me because I like to sleep. Well if what C$ is true, I'll be sleeping her chronically-tired ass into the grave.
I don't think you can overestimate the importance of good sleep and all the factors that go into it - having a good temperature in your sleeping quarters, a good solid mattress (pillow tops are for communists and fans of The View and/or Oprah, warm blankets, and if all possible, a nice lady to scratch your back and bring you tea in the morning.
Yes sir, a lot goes into sleeping.
Ahhh. Thank you fellow eLarceny journalists for sharing. RFO, far as I am concerned you just provided more evidence of your Daywalkerness. KW, well, I couldn't agree more about warm comforter and a lovely lady to share it with. And for the record, I believe the top sheet to be for the communists. If my feet get hot, I gotta stick 'em out like a true American.
My sleep ritual sucks. We get into bed (me & juice), she falls asleep in 45 seconds - no exaggeration. sometimes it seems as if she falls asleep mid sentence. and that leaves me & my random thoughts to lie there for an hour or so, getting increasingly anxious everytime i look at the clock. it sucks knowing you want to sleep, sleep would be good, sleep just doesnt always happen. There are no distractions in my room, other than my narcoleptic wife...no tv. Music works sometimes, i like to fall asleep to mazzy star, that works more often that not. I am to the point that i think about not being able to fall asleep before i even get in bed, it is a vicious cycle.
AND THEN...the weekend comes. i just put myself in a state of mind where i cant possibly keep my eyes open & all is well.
Dale, I really had no idea. I figured you would be like your wife and be out like a light. I guess the real joke is on the opportunist. All his careful plotting to get others to bring him things, actually makes him less tired, thereby causing insomnia. Hmmmm...sumpin to chew on the next time you wait with a full bladder for someone else to get beers, Dale.
it's a sacrafice i'm willing to make...are you getting a beer...? yeah, i'll take one.
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For anyone one knows Dale, isn't it funny that thoughts race through his head at night? He's been explaining this to me for awhile now & I still don't get it seeing how he's not nearly as overwhelmed by day. There was exactly one time when he fell asleep before me (passing out is another story) & I was PISSED, I just kept looking over at him w/contempt thinking I'm glad this doesn't happen much.
Sleeping, and sleeping good is a great gift. At night it's like turning off a machine, 3-2-1 all systems down, and I'm out.
I agree w/the comfy bed but I also say no tv in a bedroom which I could possibly be alone on. My tv guidelines span further than the bedroom but that's another story.
I suffer from sleep apnea. Each night when I go to sleep I stop breathing for thirth seconds or more on an average of 28 times an hour. The effect is that my brain has to constantly wake my body up and tell it to breathe, thus depriving me of the deep rem sleep needed to replenish the body. Basically, I haven't had a good nights sleep in probably 8 to 10 years. The freaky thing is that it's deceiving. I never wake up in the middle of the night, so it feels like I slept peacefully.
I don't sleep well, either, since becoming an adult, I guess, with adult-type stresses and worries. Gross. Wait till i have kids, probably won't sleep AT ALL. What can be done to turn it off like Juice (oh, how I am jealous of Juice)? Cuz I find that the most mundane things, things i have absolutely no control over, whatsoever, pop into my head as it hits the pillow.
T-PaNts, sorry to hear about that sleep apnea - my pops has that, and the big ole snores to go with it. No fun. have you tried breathe right strips? :)
I actually have a face-mask that is hoooked up to an air regulator that I'm supposed to wear. However, I rarely wear it because it's really uncomfortable. A catch-22 of sorts, sleep comfortably and don't get a good nights sleep or sleep in discomfort and feel refreshed. I am lucky in the sense that I never lie awake pondering. As soon as my head hits the pillow I am out cold.
Amen, Juice. That's how it is with me as well. And it is incredibly odd that Dale does have a racy mind, considering his mild-mannered daytime persona. Perhaps he is a super-hero with latent powers? I wonder...
Thunder, it is good to have you back at c101, even if you do snore.
And props to Miss Shanny-Fanny visiting and participating. Just got your mixeroo and love the cover art, I am sure the covers are just a prelude to a yummy bed of muzack.