For the past nine months, I have adopted a bizarre sleeping pattern. I seldom drift into slumber before about 1 o’clock am, only to be awakened by a very hungry and persistent cat at 6 o’clock am for her morning feeding. Half-awake, I stumble back into bed rebelliously fighting any attempt to actually get up and be productive at such an early hour, especially as the night sky still looms. Eventually, by 8ish, I fall back asleep and sheepishly rise between 10 and 11 am under the bright Parisian sun.
Shrouded in the shame of passing half the day away, I tell myself it will be different the next morning—that I will wake up at a respectable hour and get cracking on whatever beckons me. But, alas, the vicious cycle simply repeats itself, piling on more shame with each passing day as I can’t seem to get my life together before 9 am.
“I have been hoping that a balanced cocktail of eating properly, exercising, and taking in the fresh air would lull my body to a state of sustained rest, but the burdens of the mind seem to triumph instead.”
This routine is a sharp contrast to my life pre-mombbatical. Every morning, I was up at 6:00 am with Ruby, the cat, ready to get myself and a groggy adolescent on with our day. By 6:15, I was doing deadlifts and burpees at the Crossfit box down the street. Smoothie in hand, I made my brisk walk to the office by 7:45 and was writing and responding to emails by 8. Nowadays, I could not imagine trying to take on that degree of rigor. Emmanuel’s needs and the workings of a 400 student charter school were definitely significant motivators. I had to get my child to school and do my job. But as he got older and more independent, I could rely on him to handle his business while I handled mine.
Perhaps if I had more structured professional demands, I would find the thrust to get my day going earlier, but truth be told, I’m just tired. My body and mind just want to sleep. Now, with the weight of the pandemic, social unrest, and economic upheaval, I am longing for the type of restorative slumber that feels elusive, even non-existent. I have been hoping that a balanced cocktail of eating properly, exercising, and taking in the fresh air would lull my body to a state of sustained rest, but the burdens of the mind seem to triumph instead.
So, let’s talk about rest and sleep. . .and peace.
This Sunday’s mombbatical mindset conversation will focus on the idea of rest. Below are some questions that we will consider.
- How’s sleep going for you these days? Share your stories.
- Night owl? Early bird? Medications? Alcohol?
- For you, does getting enough sleep translate into feeling rested?
- In the fortunate event that you are well rested, what is your secret?
- How do we move from rest to peace, individually and collectively?
If you’d like to join the conversation on Sunday, July 12th, click here. Look forward to hearing your insights!
