So, if you’re new to my blog, you’ll discover quickly that it’s much more of a personal blog than anything else. While I aim to be a resource to my readers for sustainable living ideas of all kinds, I do not put out blog content as regularly as a professional blogger does. I put out ideas as I wrestle with and experience them personally – and even then, only IF I find time to write.
Vocationally speaking, I am first a wife and mom – so taking care of my household takes priority over blogging.
I am secondly a home based business owner – so consulting for my clients who want to learn how to evaluate ‘green’ marketing claims and labels, or who want to learn how to evaluate home business options, takes priority over blogging. And I sometimes use blog space to write messages to my clients beyond just sharing my own personal thoughts and struggles along the journey.
Quite honestly, between caring for my family and keeping up with the consulting questions I get regularly via email or Facebook or text or phone, there is very little time left to blog. Even though I have a list of dozens of things I’d love to write about someday.
But that’s a ‘good problem to have’ and I’m thankful for it. 🙂
At the same time, it also keeps me continually wrestling with my night owl nature.
Summertime is so laid back in my house. My hubby is a teacher, so since he’s home in the summer, he gives me extra space to work more. This often includes me staying up late to get work done without the interruption of tending to the kids’ needs. I get spoiled rotten each summer because he lets me sleep in whenever I need it.
And then, every September, the school year starts again and I get my wake up call.
School has been back in session for almost a month now, and while I’m not staying up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning (most nights anyway!), I’m not getting to bed as early as I’d like either.
This past weekend, Dr. Mercola’s weekly curated email had an article about best times to eat to line up with our circadian rhythms. I honestly haven’t had time to read the whole article yet, but it definitely called my attention back – yet again – to how important sleep is for everything. Health, weight, mental clarity, attitude – everything. I recalled what I’ve heard about looking at electronic screens after dark ramping up your brain activity and making sleep less restful… I remembered somewhere hearing that every hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after…
So inspired – and tired – Monday night I went to bed at 8:30 and felt awesome on Tuesday. And then stayed up until 1ish Tuesday and Wednesday night and feel lousy today. Muh.
I want to go to sleep earlier, but am so stuck in the patterns.
So…
I’m going to do a little challenge and am putting it out here on my blog for accountability. 🙂
Next week, Sunday the 30th through Saturday the 6th, my goal is to not be on my computer after sundown.
That will, in turn, likely get me to bed much earlier. 🙂
Anyone else with me?
I know, staying off the computer at night almost sounds ridiculous to suggest, doesn’t it? (Where are my fellow night owls?)
But in reality, we were not created to live the 24 hour, “always on” kind of life we live in modern society.
I know this is just my own personal journey and conviction to try this little challenge, and hopefully adopt it more long term, but can you imagine what it would do for our overall health, stress-levels, relationships, and spiritual lives, not to mention individual and collective energy conservation efforts, if everyone unplugged after dark?!
Sure, there are some types of work that demand after dark electronics use, but most of us could do without it if we chose to set that boundary.
And I think the results would be worth it.
I’m excited to at least try it next week.
And now it’s ‘out there’ – online, for the world to see… So I have to do it… 🙂
If anyone else wants to join me in the “Circadian Challenge” next week, let me know – maybe we can text each other at sundown to shut down. 🙂
Blessings to you all,
Lacey 🙂
I might be up for it. (of course texting each other at our different sundown times might be tricky…)
But – what counts? Computer, yes. What about reading emails that come in on the phone? Texts? I would say that reading a book on my kindle counts as reading, not screen time.
Something I read on your blog in the past 6-12 months got me to really ponder the question, “what would life really look like if one were well-rested all the time?” That is a concept that is so foreign, and yet so intriguing, that it’s worth really considering, I think. The more I thought about it, the more I craved such a situation. Have not had the best luck executing on that, however 🙁
Hey Jenny. Yeah, I have had little luck executing it myself. You might be referring to a post I did around this time last year. I seem to always get thinking about this around this time of year – probably because of back to school routines. And then, it starts getting dark so early that I tell myself I can’t really unplug at sundown, and then I yo-yo back and forth between my just accepting my night owl self and fighting it through the winter into spring. Then in summer, I accept it wholeheartedly, and then swing back to fighting it again.
I guess I don’t have a strong enough conviction and/or a big enough measure of grace yet to overcome it. Not even sure I really have to, but really think I would like to…. Sigh. One day at a time! 🙂
As for this challenge next week – I could text you at my sundown saying I’m off… for accountability. And you could do the same. I think I’ll answer texts still. 🙂
For me, definitely computer. The only other electronic screen in our house is my phone, and on that I’m going to say, no email or internet stuff. Texts and calls are fine. Of course, one of my dilemmas is that I often have webinars in the evening to attend. In those cases, I’m going to still shut down at sun down, then log on for the webinar and log right off.
We’ll see how it goes! 🙂
where you are I think it gets dark before 5pm in the winter, right? That is pretty early, and I think the variability might be tough. Would it be more realistic and sustainable in the longer term to set either a specific time or another event that is the cutoff, such as “after dinner” or “after the kids are in bed?”
This notion of an hour of sleep before midnight being worth 2 hours after is interesting. Any idea where you came across that?
I’m up for trying it next week. I already know of an exception however…that Escape Fire movie is being released on itunes on Fri 5th and I put it on my calendar to remember to watch it right away 🙂 So that will be Friday evening after the kids are in bed.
Also, I think I’m going to have to read emails that come in on my phone (or at least scan the inbox and read selected ones). I often get emails related to kid-things that might have something I need to know which is time-sensitive (e.g. remember to send in such-and-such for school tomorrow).
Yes, by 4:30 it’s dark. Yuck. Agreed on setting a time or event. Just have to figure out what is realistic.
Not sure where I heard the 2 hour thing, and not even sure it’s true. But I’ve definitely felt better the more sleep before midnight I’ve gotten – on rare occasion.
Escape Fire looks great! Our local “Green Health Task Force” group is hoping to show it as a movie night in November.
Will text you Sunday when I shut down. 😉
Last week went well. This past week – not so much! Lots of stuff seemed to come onto my plate, and I’m right back to my old night owl habits. Really don’t want to stay here. Lord, help me! Sigh.