What do you do to improve your sleep?
For years, I’ve joked that I like sleep; I’m just not very good at it. I’ve never been one to sleep in late, unless I’m sick or completely exhausted. I’ve documented my struggles on the blog frequently, including in “Nocturnal Contemplations“—I don’t call myself “The Sleepless Knight” for nothing.
I’m fairly certain my inability to sleep well has always been rooted in anxiety. As a kid, I hated going to bed—not the sleep part, but the act of trying to fall asleep. The lights going down, the house getting quiet; the simple act of closing my eyes made me nervous. It’s flared up a few times over the years, usually during periods of genuine depression or clinical anxiety.
I’ve reached a point where I’ve tried to embrace it. I’ve leaned into the “Sleepless Knight” moniker, accepting that it’s human nature to have nights where sleep just doesn’t come. Recently, I was surprised to learn that X1 and Kid 1 deal with the same thing—chronic insomnia seems to run in the family.
Today, my bedroom is my sanctuary, a sacred temple removed from the bullshit of the world, and even from the friction within my own house. I need that pitch-black room to find any peace. A few years back, I got a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, which was a total game-changer. – something I wrote about here in the aptly titled blog post “a game changer“ I feel weird falling asleep without it now.
When I’m disciplined, I follow the standard recommendations: TV off and phone down an hour before bed. I also love to read; the act relaxes me. It’s not unlike driving at high speeds: your eyes can only process information at a certain rate, and anything faster is tiring.
Then there’s the “brute force” strategy. On days where I’m struggling, I tell myself that if I just run myself into the ground, I’ll be too exhausted to think when I hit the pillow. To be honest, I’m not sure how productive that actually is. I often hit a point where I’m too tired to sleep, and I have to force myself to relax before I can actually drift off. It’s a psychological trade-off—a way to outrun the thoughts, even if the “kid hangover” is waiting for me the next morning.
P.S. Later this morning, I’m sharing a few thoughts on dating and relationships—specifically, the realization that I might know less than I think I do. It’s live now!
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like 👍, comment and subscribe below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media and check out my recent posts!
- The Middle Ground: Navigating the Audacity of Potential
- Sleep, Anxiety, and the Art of the Shut-Down
- Episode 2 “Third Gear” is LIVE!
- The 5,000-Step Standard
- When the Negative Takes Hold: The 100% Policy for the Mind
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The article “Sleep, Anxiety, and the Art of the Shut-Down” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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