A few weeks ago, on March 8, many states in the US experienced that frustrating time of year when we spring forward and lose a precious hour of our weekend and our sleep. I keep hearing rumors that the US is going to put an end to Daylight Savings Time and this ridiculous exercise of moving the clocks forward and back (although I complain less when we “fall back” and gain some weekend.) It is hard on the pets, the kids, and it always throws me into a bout of insomnia for a few weeks until my body adjusts, usually in time for the clocks to change back again. I am kidding about that, thankfully. But it sure feels that way as I lie awake night after night staring at the clock practically begging for sleep to find me and grant some blissful zzz’s.
Do you suffer from insomnia? I do on occasion and it’s very frustrating, so I really feel for people who deal with this ailment frequently. It seems like when I really want to relax and sit down to watch a show, I simply can’t stay awake. After about the fifth time of rewinding the show to the last spot I can remember, and still dozing off in the chair, I give up and go to bed. Then guess what happens? I lie awake staring at the ceiling! It’s such an annoying feeling to stare at the clock and watch the hours tick on past. Then just when sleep finally arrives, the alarm goes off, causing me to want to launch it across the room. And who could blame me? If you deal with insomnia, I’m sure you can relate.
I remember as a kid always fighting naps or bedtime, as most kids do. We kicked and screamed, and were certain we were going to miss out on something. Now as an adult, I cannot wait to go to bed most nights, but then that “tired but wired” feeling takes over, and my mind is like a pinball machine bouncing all over the place from one thought to the next, as the realization kicks in that it will be another night staring at the clock.
I know there are many things we as humans can do to try to get a better night’s sleep, and most of us are guilty of watching our TV or devices longer than we should as bedtime approaches. But there always seems to be just one more thing we need to look up online, or one more text we just have to send right now. I’m really trying to make a conscious effort to put my phone down earlier and shut the TV off sooner, but there are only so many hours in a day, and sometimes we need this time to unwind or catch up on texts or emails we didn’t get to earlier. However, this modern technology does come at a price, and that price is oftentimes sleep. I can’t say for sure, but I don’t believe insomnia was an issue in caveman days. So as challenging as life may have been back then, fighting off tigers and the elements and scrounging for food, at least they were able to get a good night’s sleep. And for that I am envious.
Insomnia
I know that I draw strength and health
When I take time to rest.
But insomnia has crept into my mind
Like an uninvited guest.
It takes over my thoughts, steals my dreams,
And puts my brain into overdrive.
This burden named insomnia
Never fails to arrive.
I am tired, but I’m wired,
And I need to get some sleep.
But as soon as I close my eyes,
Insomnia does creep.
Did I lock the door? Is the alarm set?
Insomnia has inquired
About all these things that keep me up,
Even though I am so tired.
Did I pay that bill? Does the car have gas?
Is the mortgage payment late?
Insomnia . . . stop asking me
These questions that can wait!
I need to function tomorrow
For I have a busy day.
I beg and plead for insomnia
To please just go away.
But I find the more that I persist
The more insomnia settles in my head,
Like a predator set to attack
When I climb into bed.
I bargain, and I beg,
And I try to count some sheep.
I count backwards from one hundred
Hoping that will help me sleep.
I check the clock—it’s 2:00 a.m.;
I check again, it’s four.
Night after night insomnia
Comes knocking at my door.
Then finally, sleep arrives
And kicks insomnia away.
But what’s that noise . . . that beeping sound?
Please make it go away.
It can’t be the alarm clock,
For it is way too early.
I’m not ready yet to face the day,
My mood is way too surly.
Between insomnia and this alarm
Who can get any rest?
These two have formed a tag team,
And are putting me to the test.
So what to do? I can only deal
With things I can control,
As I launch the clock across the room,
And back into bed I roll
-K.A. Bloch-
