The superstition of sleep deprivation
It is a myth, a complete superstition that one can catch up on sleep. How do I know? Even after attempting to catch up by taking a much-needed nap (as often as I can arrange it), I’m still tired. Sometimes, even more exhausted than when I started.
I often fall asleep with great difficulty. Staying asleep presents another challenge. I wouldn’t say I’m a “light sleeper,” but an “if something interrupts my sleep I may never get back to that peaceful, restful stage of sleep” kind of sleeper. This includes but is not limited to the following interruptions:
- I drank too much tea and have to get up to go to the bathroom
- Someone has a bad dream
- A weird noise outside
- My husband’s phone dinging because he’s on-call
- I have a bad/weird dream
- My husband is snoring
Being tired zaps motivation. Everything falls apart, or simply doesn’t get done. Laundry and dishes pile up, clutter seems to reproduce before my eyes, and nothing seems to make sense or go quite as it should.
Sometimes, I suck it up and blunder through all that needs to be done. Sometimes, I focus on doing just One Big Thing on the to-do list. Sometimes, I sit back and watch the piles grow while listening to the chaotic cacophony of children arguing, fussing, and begging to get More Things to do instead of their own existing piles of toys. When that becomes overwhelming, I send us all to bed.
Maybe it is only superstitious, wishful thinking, but one day I will catch up and conquer my tired, sleep-deprived state of being. Until then, I’ll attempt to stay in bed for just five more minutes when given the chance! (Click the Five Minutes Link to see my new feature at BonBon Break!!!)
(sarcasm font) What? Consistent pattern? Guess that’s why most moms are so exhausted!
I totally agree with you, no such thing “catching up on sleep” even psychologist say that to help our sleep problems we need to set a pattern instead of trying to “catch up on sleep” Great post!
Sacha recently posted…Being tired can be a superstition
Sunday afternoon naps are the best!
The days we just can’t hold our eyes open are exhausting. I struggle in church some Sundays. Never in the evening but that may be due to the afternoon nap.
Pamela recently posted…5 Steps to Know God More Deeply
I wonder how I DO make it some days, and it’s absolutely by the Grace of God. Oh, I pray for you often, that you will soon know this joy (and it IS more joy than not, even when the rest of us write about the tough stuff).
I always wonder how I am going to make it work when we have kids, but GOD’s GRACE! I just know He will get us through!
It’s tough when they have difficulty sleeping. Our son had night terrors off and on for a long time. He still has bad dreams, but not the wake up screaming not really awake inconsolable kind. Praying for you through this time!
I can relate to this! My youngest, now 3, has never been a great sleeper, so I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night. Sigh. One day …
Melanie recently posted…7 Things About Me
I don’t even know if I was smiling and not grumbling in the first newborn days…
So true! I see moms with newborns or moms who are smiling and posting on Social Media at midnight or later. I don’t know how they survive. In fact, I don’t know how I survived back when my girls were babies. Nowadays, I need a solid 7-8 hours or I’m good for nothing the next day!
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons recently posted…Hitting the “RESET” Button in Parenting
Everything is more challenging when you add more people to care for, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I am so with you! I never had issues with sleeping before I became a mother, and now I can’t seem to string very many hours together ever.
Marissa
I sit in my piles even now, wondering where to start before the next wave of too exhausted hits!
If I do manage that longer sleep, I feel somewhat disoriented for a little while before finding my “groove.” I’ve also struggled with sleep most of my life. Becoming a parent simply changed the way I have to deal with it… stumbling and grumbling to get the coffee and not understanding a word from my son for about an hour is a part of that routine.
I don’t want to ruin it for you, but my son is seven and it’s only been in the last year that he’s really started sleeping through the night almost every night. My daughter sleeps great once she is asleep.
I can 100% relate to this! Love the way that you expressed the feeling of being tired. I am smiling because I have been here and I agree being tired zaps motivation!
Cathy
I can honestly I can most definitely relate to this as I am also a light sleeper and have had my own issues with sleep from the time I was a teen, Having kids certainly hasn’t helped and also a husband who snores, but still I am so used it by now and now sure what I would do if I actually slept for more than 3-4 hours at a time myself.
Janine Huldie recently posted…Tired of Hearing, “Actually I Can’t”!
I don’t think I’m EVER going to sleep well again. My son is a horrible sleeper and we’re planning on having three more! Ten years from now I might get a full night’s sleep… 😉
Susannah recently posted…Why Did No One Tell Me These Things?