Do you crave sleep?
Do you have a hard time going to sleep?
Or, staying asleep?
Falling Asleep
Sleep is a sweet respite from the daily pressures of life. I treasure what Walt Whitman called the “free flight into the wordless, / Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done.”
~ A Clear Midnight from Leaves of Grass by W. Whitman
In an article in the New York Times (July, 8, 2023), Melissa Kirsch refers to sleep as
- taking out the trash when the body is asleep
- The “over-night mop-up”
Apparently, brain files that have become jammed or misplaced during my conscious hours, are straightened out, re-filed, or perhaps permanently deleted.
I have had the sensation of a somewhat clean slate on awakening in the morning. Before daily details encroach, the day feels fresh and new. I’m not yet aware that I forgot to put the lawn debris bin on the curb. That nagging email reminder has not yet surfaced. I don’t yet remember my looming dental appointment.
Have you had this experience?
***
As I open my eyes to the new day, I am reminded of the promise in Lamentations 3: 22, 23:
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Napping, Catching 40 Winks
A best-selling author in my neighborhood, Madeline Martin, admits to two naps each day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Apparently, some periodic shut-eye adds to her productivity. She has published more than two dozen books (mostly historical fiction) with more in the queue.
Blog friend, Jenn Simpson, offered a “napping” quote in a June 20, 2023 post I like. . .
A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting.
~ Terri Guillemets
Check it out again: Back in March, I offered nine notes about “napping.”
***
Before settling down for the night, I like to shift to a quieter gear, winding down for the day, maybe reading a fine novel like Linda Joy Myers’ The Forger of Marseille, or watching a TV series like Monarch of the Glen. Or maybe walking out to the patio and gazing at stars, squinting upward to spot moonbeams. . .
Bedtime Stories
My mother read to my sisters and me when she put us to bed. Before we drifted off to dreamland, she chose stories from this book.
My own children grew drowsy as I read to them from Bedtime Stories, “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Moses in the Bulrushes.”
Son Joel sleeping with teddy bear, age 8
* * *
When thou liest dow, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. ~ Proverbs 3:24 King James Version
Credit: Sleep emoji, PNGWing image
Is napping a part of your daily routine?
Do you have trouble falling asleep—or staying asleep?
How do you wind down before bedtime?
* * *
I will be offline October 11 – 18 to attend a college class reunion.
Good morning, Marian! I’ve sort of given up fighting it, and now go to bed ridiculously early, since I wake so early, and then I sleep well most nights. I usually read a novel before I go to sleep. We also read to our children every night, beginning when they were only a few months old, but not bible stories. 😉 Monarch of the Glen–I remember watching that!
I hope you have a wonderful time at your reunion!
I cherish bed and sleep time. I seldom nap during the day. Wish I could. Many swear by it as a way of recharging. Waking to a new day is a gift. Enjoy your reunion Marian!
Susan, you are right: Waking to a new day is a gift.
Thanks for the good wishes too! 😀
Merril, writing a blog almost daily with poetry is certainly a drain on the brain although I know you enjoy it. I too grab a novel before bedtime, but I often end up too drowsy to go beyond a few pages. Right now, the book I’m going to sleep with is The Poppy Wife by Caroline Scott. 😀
I do much more writing that is not on my blog. 🙂
Sometimes I only read a few pages, but longstanding habit of a lifetime, so I always read something. Enjoy your book!
Yes, I do know a bit about your “other” writing. I’d say you have a balance in your reading and writing life. 😀
😊
Hi,
I love taking naps, and I usually take two naps a day. I miss them when I don‘t take them. Some people have regular sleep hours and don‘t need naps. That I understand. But my sleep hours are not regular because I wake up to write lines of a story or to write out a dream I‘ve had immediately. Therefore, my body knows that I will rest sometime during each day and close my eyes and sleep.
By the way, I love all your Bible verses. Lamentations 3:22-24 is a favorite. I love the NASB version,
Enjoy your class reunion.
Shalom shalom
Pat, you have a fertile mind: The problem with that is our minds spin and click even when we’d like them to be quieter. It sounds as though naps help you adapt to your unique rhythm. I will have to check out the verses in the NASB version, easy to do since they are hyperlinked. 😀
Like Pat above, I love Lamentations 3:22-24. Thanks for reminding us of this lovely verse and promise.
I often nap, using my phone to wake me up in 20 or 25 minutes. If I sleep an hour or more I’m wrecked for awhile, having a hard time to wake up, get back into the day. 🙂
This morning my husband and I both woke up about 4:30. Nature called too early. We were both delighted that we made it back to dreamland and then got up about 6:30. Perfect for retired folks.
Looking forward to meeting you!! I plan to come to your speech at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Or did I already tell you that??
Napping with a phone alert helps ensure you won’t fall into a deep sleep and end up groggy. Some retired folks would think 6:30 is an early-bird time, but it suits me fine too.
Yes, I look forward to meeting you at VMRC. We are staying until Tuesday, so we should have plenty of time to get acquainted face to face. After reading each other’s books and blog, it shouldn’t be hard to do! 😀
Marian, I have had trouble sometimes falling asleep at night. I try to wind down starting around 7:30. I usually read to wind down. So that means I don’t watch movies or TV shows after 7:30. They are too stimulating to my mind. I learned this the hard way! I also monitor what I read at night. I prefer calming books—most of the time those I have read before. So no murder mysteries or thrillers before bedtime!
You are smart to monitor how you wind down. Right now I’m reading a murder mystery but I’d call it a “cozy” read, so I am prone to fall asleep while I’m reading.
Thanks for sharing your routine, L. Marie! 😀
Which one are you reading? I like a cozy mystery.
I’m not reading this now, but you may like another Alexander McCall Smith’s mystery: The Department of Sensitive Crimes. I imagine your library may have it. 😀
Marian —
Oh, how I wish I could nap during the day. I’ve tried but without success. Perhaps it’s because I sleep so well at night. I go to bed early and drift off to “rain storms” on my sound machine, which tends to cover noises that might otherwise wake me.
Have a wonderful time at your reunion!
Well, I declare: A murder mystery writer who sleeps through the night. I’m surprised “Bull” Gambino doesn’t wake you up with the “screaming meemies”!
Thanks for the good wishes, Laurie. 😀
Marian, I love sleep and fortunately usually get 8 hours one way or the other. I seldom get those hours consecutively, but when I do, I stretch like a kitten and purr.
Shirley, your description of sleep sounds restful. Remember how Shakespeare described MacBeth’s troubled slumber: “Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care . . . Balm of hurt minds.” Here’s to a good night’s rest tonight! 😀
I don’t have trouble falling asleep. I love to read a chapter or two from whatever book I have on my bedside table. Since Hardy’s illness and subsequent passing I sing a prayer my mother taught me when I was little and this calms any anxious thoughts I have, and I fall asleep. However, I do wake up in the morning sometimes with a feeling of anxiety, but I hope this will gradually lessen as I adjust to life without my lifelong partner.
Elfrieda, I admire how you keep going through the strain of the last few months. Connecting with family and friends (like here online) is probably therapeutic, but not always easy.
Prayers of comfort to calm anxiety. 😀
Marian, napping is a must do in our household. Of course, the two cats nap all day. We have no idea what they do in the middle of the night. As I shared the topic for your post with Bob, he was slipping away into his morning nap. And after lunch, we’ll both slip away. Some medications I have to take have the side effect of drowsiness, so I use that as my excuse to nap. At bedtime, we both read a couple of chapters of whatever book we’re reading, and usually fall asleep reading. Thanks for the quotes and the Scriptures. This was a cozy way to start our day!
I doubt that you and Bob need an excuse to nap. Research shows napping is therapeutic. In fact, I’m writing this comment after my own afternoon nap.
And I’m glad you enjoyed the quotes and scripture, Sherrey, and letting me know as well. 😀
I used to have trouble sleeping but since I retired that is no longer a problem. I do take a nap in the afternoon if I feel sleepy. My mom was the best napper. She could have a quick 20 minute nap and be ready to go again. Have a great time at your class reunion.
Your mom’s nap pattern sounds like my grandmother’s. I remember her leaning back, putting her feet up and seem re-charged after a 20-minute nap too.
Thanks for the good wishes, Darlene! 😀
After Covid ended, I stopped with the afternoon naps. I think I napped because there was nothing else to do. In any case, I find that my “down time” has always been between 2 and 3:30. p.m. even when I was thirty years younger, so my biorhythms haven’t much changed over the years. So now, I fight the afternoon nap. A good night’s sleep is the key to a healthy life, I believe, along with keeping the stress and anxiety at bay. I am so grateful that most nights, I sleep well, despite the three bathroom breaks…I end up (usually) going back to sleep. If I can’t, I try a little mantra that my best friend gave me years ago… repeating it along with a few deep breaths. I miss her so much. She was diagnosed several years ago with Alzheimers. On a side note, my mother always took naps. Of course, she usually drank port wine with lunch and that will do it. Having just returned from Porto and a port wine tasting, I can attest to the fact that it is intense!
At this time of life, we understand our biorhythms, a good thing. How wonderful that your friend gave you the key to a restful night. I know you miss her. Every once in a while, I’d lose a friend. Now it’s several a year, the consequence of a long life.
Your comment about wine made me smile, Susan. Yes, wine is soporific and has health benefits too, I’ve heard. How fortunate you had such a pleasant experience in Portugal.
I don’t take naps, although I’ve been known to nod off in my desk chair after lunch. I go through periods of insomnia, the worst being my first semester of grad school. I like to read before going to sleep because if I have a hard time falling asleep, I’ll have accomplished some good reading.
You have a good grip on understanding yourself and your sleep patterns. Like many of us, if you have a lot on your mind, it’s hard to get rest, chasing the illusive. I like your philosophy about falling asleep with a book, Liz. Thanks for checking in! 😀
You’re welcome, Marian. I am very well acquainted with anxiety dreams. 😉
I love that quote at the end, Marian! I’m often envious of my husband falling asleep within seconds, while I lie awake, not able to shut my brain off. Yet, I’m also happy he can go to sleep so quickly, especially in stressful times. We’ve had to worry about a lot, namely when running our business years ago. If I would have been in my husband’s shoes, I’d never have slept.
I guess that answers one of your questions: no, I don’t fall asleep easily, especially when being awoken by something at night. Not a good combination in the loud and not always safe countries we are camped…
No naps for me. Or winding down before bedtime. Too much to do (and worry about). Plus, naps would only make me groggier. Yet, our pace of life – and misfortunes – these months is not healthy at all. As a matter of fact, Mark and I are sick as I write this, but we can’t allow ourselves to slow down…
First of all, kudos for persevering. You and Mark are committed to the roaming life, yet I’m sorry you have to struggle with noise and unsafe conditions lately. I wonder if things will change as you travel farther south.
It’s trite to say this, but true: Get well soon. Both of YOU! ((( )))
My wife and I have completely different sleeping habits. She can go to sleep at the drop of a hat, and I often have trouble falling asleep. I’ve learned to avoid naps for this reason. I don’t seem to need as much sleep as most people. A typical night is five hours of sleep. Turning my mind off at night is still hard, but it’s gotten better since I retired and quit worrying about students so much. I gave up sleeping pills because my doctor told me about their connection to Alzheimer’s. My routine is to read until my eyes get too heavy. That usually works.
Conscientious souls, like many teachers and writers, struggle with brain overload, judging from your experience and some others who’ve commented here.
I did not know about the connection between sleeping pills and Alzheimer’s. Hmmm. I often take melatonin and GABA for restful sleep, like last night. Five hours wouldn’t be enough for me; I need more + a nap most afternoons. Thanks for commenting. Now to check out your blog’ I’m sure I’m late to the party once again. :-{
I just recently learned from my Ancestry . com profile that napping is a “trait.” Part of our DNA. I’ve never been a napper, and according to them, that’s because it’s not in my DNA. Interesting.
I bought “ancestry” kits for both my husband and one grandson, but I don’t think it had the detail you mention here, so I’m surprised that napping is a DNA trait. (I don’t need to have a DNA test to know that napping IS in my DNA–ha!)
Thanks for checking in today, Arlene–always something new to learn. 😀
Hi Marian. Luckily, I fall asleep quickly, but there’s a catch. It has to be in a window which is about 10:00-10:30. If I’m up late with friends or family, It takes, at least, an extra hour or a sleep aid to settle down. Naturally, I don’t get that time back in the morning, haha. I’m still awake at 6:30. LOVE that quote about sleeping like my husband. It’s the truth! 🙂
Thanks for adding that detail, Melanie. Now that I think of it, I have a similar
window.” If I’m up past 11:00, especially if there’s excitement, it takes longer to settle down. 😀
😀 Enjoy your reunion!!!
Great post, Marian. A good night’s sleep is vital to our health and an afternoon nap is also very beneficial. Ask any Spaniard. My Dad never went without his, but I hated it as a child as I was a bit hyper. It’s only when I became a mother that I realised how wonderful siestas are. I now indulge when I’m on holidays and sometimes at weekends. Funny thing is my husband is like my father and he never misses out if he’s not working. Long live siesta!
Maybe you are aware, even Americans refer to naps as siestas. And, of course, mothers everywhere want their children to take siestas as long as possible.
Thanks for checking in with a comment about your family’s sleep habits, Fatima! 😀
Hi Marian. Oh lucky you. I’ve been a nighthawk all my life and nothing has changed. I usually go on 5-6 hours of sleep. And I were to nap, maybe less.
Enjoy your reunion! Hugs <3
Yup, it seems from early on, we’re night owls or morning people. If you’re functioning okay on 5-6 hours of sleep, that’s okay for you. Thanks for the good wishes, Debby! 😀
My pleasure Marian. <3
Excellent topic. Doesn’t make me drowsy at all. 😉
Is napping a part of your daily routine? No
Do you have trouble falling asleep—or staying asleep? I fall asleep easily, then usually wake up around 3:00 am for a short time before I go back to sleep. I’ve always been like this so it seems normal to me
How do you wind down before bedtime? I watch one episode of a TV series, play a few rounds of Candy Crush Soda Saga, and I’m ready to snooze.
Thanks for sharing your sleep routine, Ally.
Mine is similar to yours except I may wake up even before 3:00 a.m. for a potty break and then may or may not easily go back to sleep. One episode of a TV series does it for us too. I wonder what you are watching these days. . . . 😀
Just started watching Mrs Sidhu Investigates, an Acorn show. It’s a cozy mystery with a delightful lead character who is part Jessica Fletcher, part Agatha Raisin, part Miss Marple.
Will check this out!
Hi Marian – oh sleep and especially napping. I love to fall asleep on our couch at night. It’s a weird time to take a nap, but if I’m very tired after a weekend of work, for example, I have no trouble sleeping for an hour (or 2!) on the couch then going up to bed for another 8! Great subject and you have some great methods to wind down.
You work hard at the library and in your blogging life, Barb. I can easily understand why you may fall asleep on the couch first. Thanks for sharing your unique routine. Obviously it works for you! 😀
Hi Marian, sleep is so important. I am most fortunate and I can sleep any place and any time, plane, train, or automobile.
Wow, Robbie! That’s impressive. Sleep is good for our immune systems, our psyche, and obviously stokes your creativity. Thanks for sharing. 😀
Have fun at your class reunion!!! Sleep is the most wonderful gift. You reminded me of this quote: “There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.”
Homer, The Odyssey
Thanks for sharing this quote from Homer, one I haven’t heard. I’ll make a note of it, Rebecca! 😀
I don’t nap unless I’m sick or very upset. All the wars make me a little anxious, but I can usually pray and deep breathe myself into slumber. I go to bed early with a book and a dog as my heating pad. I usually read poetry and sometimes a novel before bed, making sure it isn’t scary or upsetting. In general, I’m grateful I sleep well. I hope you had fun at your reunion–and slept well.
Elaine, I’m glad you have a calming routine for going to sleep. It’s a good idea not to stress one’s mind before slumber, staying away from stressful and upsetting stuff. Especially the news. Your comment about your dog as your heating pad reminded me of my Aunt Ruthie and her Fritzie (I-IV) as her foot warmer. Thanks for checking in today! 😀