Whew. It’s been a busy/exhausting week between the writers room, some script work, a few meetings, and preparations to depart L.A. next Friday. So much so that I forgot to post yesterday’s blog entry. So, today, you get TWO posts. One now and one later now.
Not sure what’s going on, but I’ve been having trouble sleeping. I fall asleep at around 10 p.m., then wake up in the middle of the night and sleep fitfully til 6:30 a.m. after which I am UP if not exactly AT ‘EM. Despite being awake, I’m usually too tired to check the time, but I’ve always assumed I’ve been waking up between 3-5 a.m. Last night, I put in the effort and checked my phone. 12:30 a.m.!!! A mere 2 hours of restful sleep! How long does it take REM to kick in? I recall seeing a youtube video ages ago that tells you exactly what is wrong with you by the time you wake up in the middle of night – but can no longer track it down. Any experts out there?
Last night, I had a dream that my old pug, Suji, was actually adopted by the owners of a local pub and had become the establishment’s beloved mascot. I was excitedly making my way down for a Pilsner and a reunion when I woke up.
What do you think? Anxiety-related? But I don’t feel particularly anxious outside of this script and the state of world (P.S. Did I warn you all to stock up on food, water, and toilet paper?).
It’s a mystery.
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That sounds about like a typical night for me! 3:30ish am seems to be my typical time to wake, and then I’ll either sleep on and off the rest of the night (best case scenario) or I’m basically awake for the day. It does not matter what time I go to bed so I typically try to be in bed by 10:30. I can get by with a couple of the bad nights without too much effect but if it goes on I can increasingly feel it through the day. Probably stress related? Some of it I think becomes habit and something I am totally guilty of is keeping my phone by the bedside and then, bored by not sleeping, pick it up and do some doomscrolling. I’m fairly convinced this actually trains one’s brain to wake up at a given time for the dopamine hit. I really need to get that phone into another room on going to bed.
I remember last year being at my doctor and we were talking about my (at the time) slightly elevated blood pressure. I told him it was likely from stress. He asked why and I just basically waved my arms around at everything.
How long have you been having trouble sleeping, Gary?
On and off for about 10 years or more, really. But for the most part lately it’s been.. okay – and I can get 6.5-7 hours in total (with a number of wake ups.) I do find it’s getting progressively worse again the last few months though and I think I’m averaging more like 5-5.5. I have to get to bed pretty early as going later doesn’t make a difference in my wake up time – I just get less. I am pretty sure it’s correlated to my consumption of social media, too. When I was on the train trip in February and more of less distracted from or cut off from the internet, I slept pretty well, even with the motion of the train. Interestingly, I also found I was more focused and able to concentrate better as well.
throws phone in the ditch *
Are the others in the writers room sleeping OK? I haven’t got any advice though Joe, sorry to be rubbish.
I sometimes wonder if mid day naps are the cause of my waking up in the middle of the night and then struggling to get back to sleep, but naps are so wonderful..
In the past, I’ve found that anticipation of a change in my routine, like a trip, is exciting (and sometimes causes anxiety) enough to make my sleep more shallow. Don’t wanna miss that alarm saying it’s time to go!
Other than that, I’ve got nothing. Still fighting my stupid American insurance company to pay for a sinus surgery I’ve desperately needed for years now.
Gods bless America, because no one else will…