This post is a nod to Megan Potter, who motivates others to become purposeful, passionate, and limitless. She is a cool new friend with a great blog and some incredible plans in the works. Every week this year she is doing a post called Daring Mondays where she dares herself to accomplish an intimidating goal or take on a scary challenge. She is making big change in 2010, starting with herself. That’s the stuff that gets me excited.
Even though it’s Friday, I am making a dare. I’m sure Megan won’t mind.
Sleep Is The Blogger’s Best Friend & Worst Enemy
It’s required in order to be healthy and happy, to produce quality work. It’s a nuisance because it takes time away from blogging or just living life when you have one of those “real” jobs too.
Lately, I’ve gotten off my schedule. I’m supposed to write for at least 2 hours in the morning but I have been getting up late every morning. Why? Because I have been going to bed late every night.
It really hit home two weeks ago (yeah, and I’m just now getting around to doing anything about it). My wife and I went to my mother’s house to bring her flowers for her birthday, and ended up staying longer than we should have because I did not assert my need to leave. We were having a good time and I was too timid to say anything.
Then we went to Julie’s mother’s house to use their scanner. While there, I received a call from a friend who I was happy to talk to, but it also delayed our departure. When I got off the phone, my wife was happily watching women’s ice skating on the Olympics.
By this time, I desperately wanted to go home and sleep because I was exhausted and cranky. But I didn’t speak up. I didn’t gently insist that I needed to go home. Instead I made a decision that was supposed to be noble and self-sacrificing but, truthfully, was based in fear of disapproval and lack of self-respect. I decided to stay until the ice skating was over so my wife could enjoy watching it.
Communication Is Key To Getting Your Needs Met
Even as I write this, days later, I struggle with it. Part of me wants to say “Hey, it’s OK. You’ve gotta live a little and can’t always be so rigid to your schedule.” And I know that is true.
But I also know that my body was screaming at me the whole time that it needed sleep. I know that the decision to stay led me down a path of resentment towards Julie for keeping me up late – how ridiculous is that? As if it was her fault in the least.
I never communicated to her my need to go to sleep because I was scared to disappoint her. She would have been disappointed to miss out on watching the Olympic skating, but if I had communicated fully and honestly about my needs, she would have obliged, and happily.
We haven’t had much quality time together because I have been tired and cranky, like a 3-year-old. I have been playing catch up with my blog in the evenings when I should be living life with her. Sacrificing myself so she could watch the Olympics has not made her life or mine happier.
Okay, I Get The Point
Since that night, this issue has been on my mind. But I guess that just wasn’t enough. God likes to send little reminders and bits of inspiration. I’ve largely ignored what I knew I should do, so I received this little reminder from Bad Deacon Design which reinforced that not sleeping is a bad decision. My overarching goal of blogging full time requires this commitment from me right now. It’s time to follow through.
My Dare
This coming week, I dare to be in bed by 10pm every day. More importantly, I dare to communicate about it with my wife.
Conscious Me is now on Facebook.Visit the new page and add me as your friend!
Thanks,
Carlos
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That's a good idea. Blogging takes a lot of responsibilities. But you don't always need to sacrifice your time to sleep. You always need to be healthy. I have experience though, that you can think better about your work if you sleep enough.
My recent post The Advantages of Subscribing to Blogs – Just a Recap
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 5:34 PM
That's no joke Bert. I definitely do my best when I've slept well. I intend to be able to give a good update on how it goes next week. Thanks for checking in!
My recent post The Law of Attraction Trinity: Connection
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Ack! I feel like a total hypocrite!
I was up till 2am working on my new woodblock print and filming a promo video for my last print series. Up this morning at 6:30am to hop in front of my computer to start writing.
My "excuse" was that it was Thursday night, and I will be able to get as much sleep as I want Friday night.
God bless the weekend.
My recent post Ye Olde “What I’ve Been Doing” Update
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Dude, I can't wait to see that video. Have you figured out the editing bit yet?
My recent post The Wu-Tang Plan, Part 6. C.R.E.A.M: Carlos Really Expects Abundance to Manifest
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Sleep is critical. It really is.
I'm learning to get around it with habit and structure.
My recent post Antti Kokkonen – When it has to be done right
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Yeah, the sort-of-habits that I have had in place have kept my blogging alive these past few weeks. But I definitely need to improve those and get my schedule down better to manage everything that's coming up in the next couple months.
My recent post The Law Of Attraction Trinity: Action
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Carlos, I have chronic insomnia (it is abating, somewhat) and two preschoolers. I haven't slept in six years.
When I was a new mother, my single hottest fantasy was that I checked in to a hotel with soft sheets, by myself, and slept uninterrupted for eight hours. I spent a lot of time thinking about this.
Now, think about this: intelligence units and jails use sleep deprivation to torture people. Lack of sleep will break you down and absolutely ensure that you are miserable to be around AND you don't get much accomplished.
Motherly lecture over (aren't I getting good? Five years of practice).
PS naps.
PPS naps.
PPPS NAPS
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 5:42 PM
My recent post The Law Of Attraction Trinity: Creation
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Good luck man, I still don't have a handle on it. My wife still doesn't know exactly what I am doing on the web I amnot sure she knows about my blog, just that I am writing all of the time.
My recent post How to Traumatize the Kids Without Really Trying
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 5:43 PM
haha! You might want to let her in on it. She's going to find out eventually when you're so famous you're getting hate mail…she better know why.
My recent post Synchrony (Or Lack There-Of) As A Gauge For A Relationship’s Health
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Carlos,
I've had been struggling to sleep restfully for a number of years; however more recently my peaceful sleep patterns have returned and I' slleping much better. This, unfortunately is leading me to go to bed later and sleep in the morning; not really a habit I wanted to get into.
I, too need to address my sleeping habits, hopefully with the effect being more productive with my blog writing.
Now where's my partner, I need to speak to her about my intentions. I let you know how I go on.
Regards
Paul
My recent post When the time is right!
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Hey Paul, thanks for dropping in again. It's so easy to stay up late…I fall into it all the time. I've heard that 10pm to 2am is the most beneficial time to sleep. I certainly have noticed a better, more effective me whenever I've been asleep before 11pm.
Good luck with changing your sleeping habits. I am definitely interested to know how it goes.
My recent post Synchrony (Or Lack There-Of) As A Gauge For A Relationship’s Health
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I can relate to this from experience and I know how hard it is to try and make it in bed by 10 which I have also been trying to do except 11pm for me (I have been staying up until 1 or 2am and waking back up at 6am).
My recent post Just keep at it
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Carlos Velez Reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 11:57 PM
ugh..yeah. I've been on a similar schedule. going to bed around midnight and sleeping through my 5am alarm until 6 or so. I never wake up ready to take on the world like that.
My recent post Pre-Writing Challenge Updates: Week 3 + E-Book And Future Event
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