Resolved in the morning
Sleeping like a baby: Mama naps with her first grandchild, Ryan, in 1976
“It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” — John Steinbeck
If you’re an insomniac, a night owl, or both (as I am) you have probably done a good bit of work and/or worry in the late hours of the evening, or even the wee hours of the morning. If so, you may have reluctantly concluded, as I did years ago, that staying up late does little to contribute to facing tough problems or challenges. I’ve watched early risers such as my husband for many years, and they are all fairly insistent about getting to bed at a reasonable hour. They are also, almost without exception, far more accomplished than I am.
Although it’s not in my nature to be an early-to-rise, early-to-bed sort, I’ve come to the inescapable conclusion that guarding my sleep habits to ensure at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night is one of the most important things I can do to preserve my own health and sanity. And I have to agree with Steinbeck that sleep often yields a mental clarity and focus that cuts through what seemed insurmountable obstacles the night before.
I’ve read that insomnia is an increasing problem in today’s world. Little wonder, with all that we have to keep us up at night. The bright side of this national sleep problem is that there are good, sound articles almost everywhere you look, online and in print, that include simple tips and information to help us maintain good sleep habits. I hope you are making sure to get adequate sleep. It’s one of the kindest things you can do for yourself, and ultimately, for all the people who are depending on you.
This post was originally published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: catching zzz, dozing, health, healthy habits, insomnia, mental health, naps, night owl, rejuvenation, relaxation, rest, self improvement, shuteye, sleep
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia!
What an enchanting photo! Your mama is beautiful, by the way. I can see the family resemblance.
On mornings when I get a slow start, it seems hard to get going all day.
Getting to sleep on time isn’t always easy, but I found an app that I like, called “Insight Timer,” that has meditations, music, talks, and stories that you can select by topic or length.
It turns out that “jumpy legs” can actually be brought on by relaxation exercises!! What a bummer. I had no idea.
I’m having better luck with either just music or (surprisingly) bedtime stories. Somehow, the gentleman reading “Doctor Doolittle” can put me to sleep in minutes, despite the interesting story.
Thanks for telling me about that app! I just installed it and will look forward to trying it. Thanks also for your kind words about Mama. Yes, she was quite a beautiful woman. I inherited some of her traits but I certainly wish I had her profile. Instead, I got the receding chin and baggy eyes from Daddy!
What a beautiful photo, causes feelings of joy & contentment to rise!
Thank you, Mary Ann. The baby in that photo is now 44! How quickly time passes away…