tm-horz-banner

Sleepy Goodnight

Posted January 20th, 2010 by Jen in family life

Goodnight, that’s all. I’m tired, so I’ll go to bed. I’ve lived most of my adult life not following that simple reasoning, and instead have pushed myself to the very limits of physical and mental endurance. For something or another. A final exam, a work project, a busy season, there is always a pressing reason (in my mind) to not listen to my body say, “I’m fatigued.”

I’m finally learning that there are consequences to this behavior! I’m nearly 40 - yikes, in July. After my last unexpected visit to the doctor, when I recently felt faint and dizzy at work for no reason at all (just sitting helping a student with math), I was roused from my blasé attitude that my body can handle anything. My doctor, who delivered my last baby and knows me fairly well, had looked at me with her eyes tearing over and said, “I need to write a note to your boss to tell him/her that you can’t work so much.” I laughed self-consciously and told her she’d be writing a note to myself, at which point she promptly scheduled me a counseling appointment to deal with my seeming inability to not work so much!

I didn’t go to the appointment, but the incident did serve as a needed wake-up call, and I’ve made some changes in my schedule. Which begins with, goodnight, I’m tired.

tm-horz-banner

7 Responses

  1. Heather January 21st, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Ooo, I hate when that happens– for me it knocks me on my bottom (or God does) and either I rest for real (and sleep 12 hours straight) or I injure myself and end up losing several months. Get some rest, God bless you.

  2. Kristin January 24th, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    Fais de bons rêves — and listen to your feelings (tiredness, hunger, etc). Naps are good, too :-) Bon courage and yes, God bless.

  3. Fencepost January 25th, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Good decision!
    I am constantly preaching about the importance of sleep. It is just as important as food and water!!

  4. Amy January 25th, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    In the midst of dealing with health issues I discovered that I have adrenal insufficiency, along with Epstein-Barr. I am having to learn some new ways of living, including resting & not pushing myself, as well as paying attention to what I eat/don’t eat (& when!), and how I respond to stress. It is a learning process, and I sometimes do better than others, but am progressing as I go. May you learn to “listen” to your body, more important that you direct you life to “Lord, what would you have me do?”. I think, sometimes, “busyness” is like a “disease” running rampant in our culture. Hmmm, reminds me of this great blog I read concerning time… :D
    God blessing you.

  5. e-Mom January 26th, 2010 at 12:26 am

    I’ve been wondering how you handle your job, four kids, and a live-in aging relative… all at once. Take it easy my friend. :~D

  6. Julie January 30th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    I am so glad to finally hear you say this! I have never known someone to work at all ends of the day like you do - like working Team mascot at 4 am before a full day of teaching kicks in and calling me at 8 pm that same day from a grocery store, never having gone home.

    But you do still manage to always smile!
    This blog post I wrote last year might encourage you!

    And check out the one I just wrote today, it’s along the same lines. Chin up my dear friend!

    http://runninggalinsights.blogspot.com/2008/11/are-you-down-try-this.html

  7. Jen February 10th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    Julie, thanks for the “chin up.” I really am sleeping more.

RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URL

Comment