I’m caught in a cycle of insomnia currently. Part of it is a brain that needs a dimmer switch. Part of it is my body be going through detox and part of it is the need I have to be organised. My office at home is a catch-all area where things get tossed that have no other place to be. I’ve been promising myself I will do something with this room as I tire of stepping over empty boxes, and other miscellaneous “stuff” that has piled up.
So last night while my husband and daughter were at choir I decided to spend “just one hour” to see what I could get done. I spent nearly three hours and hauled three bags of garbage, two bins of recycling, and two boxes of ‘stuff’ for the parishes upcoming yard sale. I was proud of myself. I did some deep breathing and meditation exercises, I said my evening prayers and got ready to sleep.
One mississauga, two mississauga, three mississauga and the brain was replying “click, click, whirrrrr”. So after half an hour I got up and tackled the kitchen cupboards. I threw out spices that are older than my daughter (she’s 12). I pulled everything out of the fridge and freezer and disposed of anything past its expiry date. I even cleaned out the “junk drawer” and felt awesome!
And bone weary.
I climbed the stair again to attempt sleep about midnight. I was feeling cold so I stayed put where it was warm. and when my hsubands alarm went off at 4:00 a.m., I woke him up but could not go back to sleep. So I got up at 4:30 and started on my dining room.
Today is my “day off”. I have an appointment in the city, and then the rest of the day is mine. I’m expecting that a nap is in order, and then maybe I’ll tackle my bedroom closet and sweater chest…hmmm. I have a basket of fresh laundry to put away…perhaps its time to take a clothing inventory…perhaps that nap will have to wait.
But right now I’ve got dishes to wash and have to be out of this house in 20 minutes. I should probably get dressed too as I think it’s too cold for my nightgown and bathrobe.
The gift of insomnia is that it frees time to organise, something that always brings me peace and calm. So today I may indulge my mental health and do what feels good to my psyche. I will sleep tonight, I may sleep this afternoon. And in the meantime I will have a fairly well-organised house.
That, in itself, is a gift to me.
Wow, can you come over to our house the next time you have insomnia. When I can’t sleep, which is almost every night, I read until I can’t see the words anymore. Maybe I should try your way, and clean the house.