My word of the week is nightlife. Thanks to a super moon and heatwave my sleep schedule has been turned upside down. In the past, these cosmic and meteorological events would disrupt every aspect of my life. That is until I learned how to live like a vampire! This week I am sharing the guidelines that help me remain productive until my sleep schedule turns around.
Welcome to my Word of the Week submission. The host for this blogger linkup is Raisie Bay. Be sure to see the link at the end of this post to read her post and more.
My #WotW is #NIGHTLIFE. A #supermoon and a #heatwave threw my # sleep #schedule for a loop 😴
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my coffee drinking habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me supplied in caffeine. It’s a win for everyone.
1. Sleep When Body Wants
My word of the week is nightlife because the moon and weather made it impossible to sleep at night. I have tracked super moons and their effect on my body for several years. Without fail, each one produces a wicked migraine. Along with the super moon, southern California had a sweltering heatwave. With temperatures in the high 90’s, my body wanted nothing to do with daytime hours. Each day as the pressure built up to the high of the day, my body and mind demanded sleep.
Unless my schedule will absolutely not allow for it, the best thing I can do when these types of episodes occur is to give in. Fighting it just increased my frustration and exhaustion. Sleeping when it wants grants me energy during my awake hours. By following my body’s lead, my body resumes a preferred sleep schedule faster than when fighting it.
2. Do Daytime Tasks at Night
Before embracing an occasional bout of vampire life, I would fall behind on housework, writing, and more. All because I spent my nights trying to force my body to sleep. Instead of getting nothing done, I began taking care of business. Although the days this week were spent in bed nursing a migraine, my nights were spent writing and working on projects. While not as much as I would have accomplished had I not been knocked down, it was still more than if I had fought my body.
Another daytime task that I perform at night is keeping up with my pain management treatments. I run pemf treatments on my spine and keep up with my physical therapy.
3. Prepare Easy Meals for My Family
I admit that this next point is easy because my youngest is in her late teens. However, I began doing this when she was around 10 years old. By watching the weather forecast and checking dates for cosmic events like super moons or a lunar/solar eclipse, I can plan ahead. When I see evidence of a perfect nightlife storm, I stock up on foods that my family can easily prepare or heat themselves.
4. Do Not Disturb
Removing as many distractions as possible is imperative when living the nightlife. A good day’s sleep is just as important as a good night. I use blackout curtains and a sleep mask. Turning my phone off or at the very least set it to do not disturb limits sleep disruptions. A quick text to my husband lets him know not to call or worry if I don’t reply to his message.
5. Avoid Junk Food
In the past, I used nightlife as a time to throw myself a pity party. But a pity party was the last thing I needed. Junk food increased my chronic pain, triggered psoriasis flares, and messed with my digestive system. The best thing I can do for my body is to continue eating like I do when living a typical schedule.
How do you cope when your sleep schedule gets thrown for a loop?
See what others chose for their word of the week!
Read last week’s Word of the Week
I used to get the most horrendous migraines that would keep me up at night. The only way I could cope was following what my body needed. Sleep when it told me and work when I could. Glad to say, I no longer get them, but I totally agree with your points. Hope it is settling down for you now. #wotw
Thank you, it is. Temps are finally back in our normal range. Listening to our bodies is key for so many things. Glad you no longer get them.
When I first read your word I thought you were going to tell us that you had set up your own club at home or something Cynthia, haha! I’m so glad that you’ve found ways to help deal with your sleep struggles and migraines. As you say, why fight the way your body wants to do things. If it’s happier being awake at night and it works for you then that’s the way to do it! #wotw
Haha! If it keeps up I just might set up a nightclub 🤣
Teaching online from home has been wonderful for me in one way- I can take naps between classes if need be. 🙂
That’s a fantastic perk!!
Yes I love naps 🙂
You and me both!
I can understand how a heatwave could make it hard to sleep at night but I never realised the moon could also have an effect. I’m glad you have found a way to live with being nocturnal at times like this and I’m sure that going with the flow and accepting it must be a lot easier than fighting it and having an idea of when its likely to happen helps you plan for it too. Hope that you manage to get back in sync with sleeping again soon. #WotW
Thanks! We should be back to normal temps by the end of the weekend. Woo Hoo!
I was wondering where you were going with the word “Nightlife”. Could you please send some of your heat eastward? PA has been cold and rainy. I did get to see the supermoon through the skylight, though. Beautiful! Thanks for the good tips for sleeplessness. I do suffer from that at times.
Hee hee, I wish I could send you some of our heat! It is not normal for us to have a heatwave like this in May. Yet, we have had two in the past 30 days. Ugh!! The moon was gorgeous! I kept the lights indoors on low and enjoyed how the moon lit up my yard and house.
I have been struggling to sleep for the last month or so. I am blaming the fact I am doing less with being on lockdown and worrying about Covid-19.
We saw the moon the other night and it looked amazing. I hadn’t thought about it being a super moon.
Great advice x
Wasn’t it beautiful!!?? I thought I was out of my mind the first time it occurred. I thought, no it had to be something else. But decided to keep track of how I felt before and during every major event with the moon and without fail, they trigger a migraine. Heatwaves usually cause my sleep disruption and when combined with a super moon, watch out LOL.
I do find there are times when all I want to do is sleep, and I wake up during the night, but it never takes me long to get back off to sleep. I like that you have your routine sorted and it works for you. Too often we end up fighting our bodies natural instincts and then it makes us feel worse. x
I will be so glad when the super moon is gone and we are back to seasonal temps in a few days.