Review Of Feedback And Actions

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  5 minute read  

Soliciting feedback for sleep hygiene:

  • Supplements products and dosages [that are not melatonin or diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Zzzquil)]? e.g. Zinc or Magnesium
  • Meditation practices for calming, anxiety, or specifically sleep? Please provide a name or link that I can look for e.g. “Body Scan meditation”
  • Any other sleeping-related protips that personally WORK for you (not advice but practices that YOU follow)?

Recalibrating

My insomnia finally peaked 2 nights ago with a totally (0 hr) sleepless night. I mean that I read for 3 hrs (11pm - 2am), attempted to sleep for 1 hr, and finally gave up around 3am-4am. I slept 0 hours on Sunday night; this is kind of impressive. I was not anxious, emotional, or on any drugs (I had drank tequila the night before and that was it for the past week). I have not had a night where I could not eventually fall asleep before. However, instead of letting it “hurt” me, I made it incredibly productive: wrote a microsong for guitar, did a mini-photoshoot of some bartending action, compiled a collection of my best pictures of myself, read a bunch more, and did laundry all before 7am. I did not crash yesterday (though I did have caffeine to make a doc appt in the later morning). Missing sleep like this is not healthy, but I have been an insomniac for years and am currently in medical treatment for it (and emailed my provider today about it too). Instead of letting it run me, I will adapt around it in the meantime. Thankfully, I do not have a full-time job or this would be impossible – I am grateful.

That being said, I am going to make an attempt to work on the areas that feed into my sleep quality – to minimize any impacts that are within my control:

  • Cut out caffeine tabs (somedays I take a 100mg tab in the morning) – my morning black tea is okay though I haven’t had any in a while
  • Drugs: I don’t drink or smoke often (monthly at least and weekly at most), but I will continue avoiding these anyway
  • Diet: keep eating well and phase out my current junk food – I eat probably a 50/50 mix of healthier options (raw apples, raw carrots, protein cereal, strawberry protein shake, homemade meals like chili or fajiatas, etc.) vs. processed stuff (hot pocket, frozen TV dinner, etc.) I will slowly eat up my junk food storage in my freezer and not replace it
  • Journaling: I have “slacked” off on this. I will try writing more here again, and in my notebook. I really enjoy it, and I can usually feel when I am consistent with it
  • Meditation: Again, I was doing it as needed, but I think I should make this a daily thing to build the practice and make sure that I am getting out of my head

All that said, I feel really good and positive over the past few days. Although my journal can highlight my struggles and negativity sometimes, I also want to acknowledge and be grateful for what I do have. Most days, I feel incredibly lucked and blessed.

WINS:

  • Bartending Job: I got scheduled 4 days this upcoming week (for more experience – my future schedule will be more like 2-3 days/wk). I am really enjoying this, and again, I am so incredibly grateful that I got this job. I have been reading about cocktails, studying my recipe flashcards, and typed up all my work notes to review them. I really want to knock this job out of the park and set myself up with a skill that is social and travels well (plus makes good money). I officially quit my old bartending job last week.
  • Photography: I have read more about photography and taken more photos of myself and other things in the last month than I have my whole life. I have been collecting the best pictures of myself, and I have a friend helping me editing and curate those. I have some more (female) friends that I will send some pictures of too to get some feedback. I do not care if I ever get good at photography because I enjoy the hell out of it. Getting good is only a bonus!
  • Guitar: I wrote my first song again since over a year ago. I have been improving, and I really enjoy playing. My heart yearns for the day that I can create beautiful, emotional music (though to my credit – I am already there in my beginning steps)

AREAS of GROWTH:

I miss having intimacy and am still adjusting to being single after nearly a decade. Although I am self-sufficient and have plenty of friends (close and far) that I keep in constant contact with (emotionally and in-person), I still very much cherish a feminine influence and touch in my life (not sure how to word that, but you get it). I am planning to make this a priority soon hence the focus on getting good pictures of myself.

I am going to do an analysis of sorts of my sleep hygiene to help myself out here and run it by my therapist (for insomnia).

Sleeping Hygiene (every night):

CURRENTLY DOING:

  • white noise sound maker
  • ear plugs
  • eye mask (the kind that blocks light from the edges too)

START DOING:

I AM READY FOR ANOTHER KICKASS WEEK Life is great, and I feel great.