JOAN'S OFFICE: What Things Can’t You Live Without?

JOAN'S OFFICE: What Things Can’t You Live Without?:                                                                              By Joan Whetzel   If you had asked me this question as a ki...

What Things Can’t You Live Without?

                                                             By Joan Whetzel

 

If you had asked me this question as a kid, I would probably have chosen a favorite Easter dress, trick or treating, Christmas presents, a specific friend (who I haven’t seen in decades and would no longer recognize if I passed them on the street), the public swimming pool a couple blocks over, or that red bike I used to ride everywhere – to name a few.

 Funny how the things you consider important change with age and time. My list of things I can’t live without is may be shorter than it used to be – or maybe not. The items it contains is definitely different. 

Here’s my current list.I cannot live without (not necessarily in this order):

Ø  My family.

Ø  God.

Ø  Friends, for as long as God allows them to be in my life (life changes, people move, …).

Ø  Food and water.

Ø  A roof over my head.

Ø  Sunshine and rain.

Ø  Flannel sheets in the winter, or a heating blanket to heat up the sheets before I get in to bed on cold nights.

Ø  Music, all kinds.

Ø  Sleep.

Ø  White noise, to drown out the total quiet on those nights when everyone actually goes home to sleep, when there’s no dogs conversing all night, and when there’s no noisy weather going on outside – or on those nights when my brain won’t shut up.

Ø  The ceiling fan at night. Yes, even in the winter I need to feel the air moving.

Ø  Alone time = having the house to myself once in a while.

Ø  A graceful exit from large parties or gatherings (too people-y).

Ø  Good books to read.

Ø  Places to volunteer.

Ø  Income.

Ø  Green spaces (picnics, walks, playgrounds).

 

I’m sure I’ll mentally add to this list from time to time.

JOAN'S OFFICE: Trouble Sleeping Again

JOAN'S OFFICE: Trouble Sleeping Again:  Posted: August 23, 2020 By: Joan Whetzel   This year has weighed heavy on my, and yes, I know I am not alone in this. Between the Covid...

Trouble Sleeping Again

 Posted: August 23, 2020

By: Joan Whetzel

 

This year has weighed heavy on my, and yes, I know I am not alone in this. Between the Covid, the lock downs, lower income because of not working, the political climate, and just a general feeling that everything feels unsettled, I have come to a point this summer where I cannot sleep well. It reminds me of my personal summer from hell a few years ago, and has triggered some of the feelings of being in a life I have no control over – feelings I had that summer after my husband died – triggering memories of the trouble sleeping I had back then. Sleep-wise, I would kill for a consistent string of all-nighters, with only a rare trip to the bathroom.

 

Well I have, in the intervening years, developed a bedtime routine of sorts, which has helped me get a good night’s sleep most of the time. At least until this summer. This summer’s routine means I am getting a little more sleep than I did that summer (5 hours interrupted sleep as opposed to 3 hours of extremely interrupted sleep). But oh, what I wouldn’t give for a normal sleep pattern again.

 

My bedtime routine includes:

1.   -  Running the ceiling fan to keep it cool (and for a little white noise).

2.   -  Going to bed and waking up at the same time.

3.   -  Watching what I eat, especially in the evening (no spicy or fried foods, no coffee past noon).

4.    - Using dim table lamps the last hour before laying down to go to sleep.

5.   -  Praying (usually the rosary, something about the rhythm of it) right before going to sleep.

6.   --  Getting regular exercise during the daytime.

7.   -  Turning off political and Covid virus news. Period.

8.  -   Watching TV shows or movies that allow my mind to wander and imagine; shows that don’t leave me  agitated and upset.

-I have found a few bedtime and daily routine things that I change out or add in to my day and night as needed:

1.   -  I have noticed that my exercise routine has fallen off considerably, and I am working back into increased exercise daily.

2.   - Since I’m home all the time, I have begun taking afternoon naps. Definitely a habit I’ve had to work hard at stopping.

3.    - I’ve been locked up inside. So, on the few days I get outside and catch some rays, I have slept better that night. So, this will be something I add more regularly to my days. Even if it’s only to go sit out on the deck to eat lunch.

4.  -   I do occasional mindless repetitive tasks in front of the evening TV, like mending, making lists of things that need to be done seems to wind my mind down. Less time to worry over the things that keep my head from shutting up.

5.   -  I turn on a relaxation or sleep “video” from my Amazon Prime account, and setting the TV timer to turn off in 30 minutes. (I always fall asleep before the TV goes off).

6.   -  Or use my white noise machine. It has a selection of sounds to choose from and I can set it to turn itself off. (I fall asleep before it turns off).

7.   -  I also read a few chapters of my latest book several nights a week.

Lately, I have added one more trick that Grandma Pauken used to help us sleep when we went up there on summer vacations. I drink a glass of warm milk with Ovaltine. I’ve done it for the last 2 nights. It definitely helps me fall asleep. It hasn’t quite helped me stay asleep all night – yet. But then it’s only been 2 nights. So, we’ll see. I have found a few other tricks I might swap out. I’ll let you know how they work.