OK, I really need to learn how to switch my brain off at night time. I mean, seriously. The past few nights I’ve been dog tired at like 9pm, but then I get a second wind and stay up late and by the time I snuggle in for the night, my brain is whirring.
For some reason I have an overactive mind during the night-time hours. When I should be snoozing, I’m thinking about work, or planning what to cook at the weekend, or wondering if the kohl rabi I’ve just planted will come out ok. The Boy has absolutely no troubles on this front – quite the opposite in fact, he seems to slip into power mode nap whenever he’s not moving.
The night before last, I was awake until 1am thinking about inane rubbish. Last night I headed to bed optimistic of getting some good zeds, but once again the brain was off and I was planning our crop rotation for next year. I am such a freak! Anyhoo, last night once I did drop off, external forces thwarted my snooze – with a 3.30am arrival of the Police to our street.
This has happened before but on this occasion, the police dogs were sniffing round the house opposite ours instead of yapping at a wannabe car thief in our front garden. Two coppers were pegging it round looking for something or someone. It was all rather exciting and we checked our back garden in case the offenders were holed up there. No such drama however and 15 mins later the street was back to its normal quietness. That is, until a fire engine came up the street then spent about 20mins reversing with the accompanying “beep…beep” soundtrack. Nice, thanks.
Last night I was thankfully able to slip back into sleep relatively quickly, probably because I was so knacked from my earlier mind wanderings. But it’s gotta stop! Not least because I’m getting serious bags under the eyes and despite using a good night cream and eye serum (now I’m old) they aren’t getting better – and I’m thinking Bridal, ladies, I have (almost exactly) one year to get utterly gorgeousness sorted!! (on another Bridezilla note, I went to the garden centre last night and ended up bying a hydrangea plant solely because it was called “The Bride”. It better not die!)
I’ve come across magazine articles which recommend hot milk or chamomile tea before bed, a warm bath, lavender oil on pillows etc. This piece on sleep tips says “Don’t make bedtime the time to solve your problems. Make a to do list for the next day then try to clear your mind.”
But come on, do these really work? Seems like a whole lot of faffing to me. Wine is more my style – so tonight I’m doing alcohol therapy – a few glasses before I go up the wooden hill to help me on my way. Can’t decide tho if empty calories are a lesser evil than black bags under the eyes.
