The Key to Happy Living

I'm convinced that getting adequate sleep is the key player in living a good life. More than money or anything else. It keeps you healthy, it keeps you feeling good, and everything you have to do is so much easier if you're well-rested. This is not rocket science, in fact, it's probably something that has been proven in a study somewhere and not a unique thought at all. But since I've spent the better part of the last year feeling overwhelmingly tired, I can truly attest to how important it is to sleep well.

It's no secret that parenting has really thrown me off my rails, more so than I could have ever imagined, and even when Gavin was sleeping, I spent many nights wide awake in the middle of the night just totally agitated for reasons that were a mystery to me. Normal stress of life, I guess. I've tried essential oils, meditation, eating well and exercise, acupuncture, and now, finally, I feel like I get good sleep about 6 nights a week. (For the record, I don't think that drugs were the answer to this kind of problem, at least not for me.) Thank goodness.

My memory may play out an exaggerated version of my recent sleep record, but honestly it seemed that everything would work against me. I would lay awake for two hours, finally drift off, then Dylan would snore. Then I'd finally drift off again, and Gavin would cough and the monitor would wake me. Or the dog would bark, or a cricket would start chirping. It was truly maddening. Then I'd fear for my health, believing I'd surely come down with cancer or heart disease or something awful very soon since my body was not getting the proper sleep to heal and be well. So then it would be time to get up to go to work, and I'd realize I hadn't slept since 1am.

That being said, it's pretty remarkable how highly a person can function on little to no sleep. It's not fun or easy, but I was capable of complex thought, performing in a high-paced work environment, and even exercise while utterly exhausted without really skipping a beat. All due to stress hormones and caffeine...AKA operating in manic mode. I heard once that new moms often do operate like bipolar people in a manic phase, and I totally get that. You try to keep control of everything in life, even when it's impossible to keep up with everything, and you are so tired, and you just keep going. I should have just taken this time for what it is and just been easier on myself, but I hated feeling like I couldn't do all the things I had previously done while also taking care of a high-maintenance baby.

I'd say it's high time that my adrenal gland gets a rest. Maybe it's burned out and that's why I'm able to relax again. Whatever it is, I am so beyond thankful to be getting some shut-eye recently. I really hope that I didn't just jinx myself with this post. Anyhow, this is my rare post that is photo-free and not (entirely) about Gavin for the time-being. Enjoy, and sleep on!