PORCH PONDERINGS

My New Normal Norma - or is it Norma Normal

PROMPT March 4th

What is something you started doing during the pandemic that you will continue in the “post-pandemic” world?


I had a sleep study done last year. Seems I had some issues that made me think I wasn’t sleeping, even though the study said I was. So I had to rethink my sleep habits.

With a starting time of 2 AM, I had to go to bed earlier each week. Now I am now going to bed at midnight most nights. I now wake most mornings at 8 AM.

I guess this is now the routine I need to follow. I don’t wake at night like I used to, don’t toss and turn like I used to, don’t lie awake like I used to. So even though I was skeptical at first, this seems to be a regimen that works. It somehow retrained my overactive brain to relax, not worry, and calm down. Every now and then I have a bad night, but not as often as before. Plus I don’t take sleeping pills anymore.

No naps are allowed during the day even though I do get tired if I am in a quiet room for any length of time and sitting still. I do find I need caffeine more than usual to stay awake so maybe I need to back off on that, but not right now. It is daunting to look at the clock at 5 PM and realize there are 7 more hours to be awake.

So welcome to your new normal. Norma.