Bedtime Quirks

Sorry my lovelies, I’ve been feeling a little adrift this week. I think I need to take a break from the news for a little while (although it’s not easy to do 🙄) as it has been very frustrating lately. The Supreme Courts inaction on the Texas abortion ban pushed me over this week.

In an attempt to turn my frown upside down I thought I would regale you with tales of my bedtime quirks, or tics if you prefer, that I go through every night before I fall asleep 😊. Some of them you may also have, but I’m betting I can amaze you with the amount of energy I spend getting into the right space to fall asleep. I guess you could say it’s my bedtime routine, that I cannot control 😆.

First, let’s talk about my bedding issues. Like most people, I cannot fall asleep unless I’ve got something covering me – sheet, blanket, or comforter – even in the summer. However, said covering CANNOT AT ANYTIME be between me and the bed. Nor can the fitted sheet be bunched up in a way as to create a lump under my body. Anything that creates a feeling of something underneath me will drive me crazy. Even my pillows cannot fall behind my back in any way. I can feel the smallest of wrinkles and I will not sleep until I adjust it. It’s a sensory thing for me.

Also, I usually have the covering up to my ear, if I’m on my side, but NOT on my face. The only exceptions? It’s incredible hot (which I try to keep it cool in the summer) or my nose is so cold I have to warm it up. One of the worst things about my ex is he would pull the covers with him if he rolled over on his side, completely destroying my sleep cocoon (I really need a fist shaking emoji for moments like this 🤣). 

Right now you’re thinking, that’s not so bad. But wait there’s more 😁! I like the covers to snug up to, but not under, my back (if you haven’t guessed by now, I primarily sleep on my side 😜). Also, my sleep shirts have to be pulled all the way down so that my back isn’t exposed to cold sheets, but it can’t be bunched up either. Nor can it sit under me in such a way that hampers my arm movements. In the winter my shirt sleeves must also be pulled to my wrists. And the waist of my sleep pants cannot be twisted or even sit in a way that I deem uncomfortable, or I will fidget with it until I get it just right.

I don’t like the pillow to bunch up around my face because I hate breathing on myself. I’ll even move my arms out of the way if I exhale and it bounces back to my face. I don’t like to even hear myself breath loudly (crazy, I know 😆).

I try to fall asleep on my back or left side but find it so awkward, I roll right over to my right side. And it will still take a good five minutes to get into the correct sleeping position based on the above criteria.

Lastly, there is the actual body position. I need to lie in as straight a position as possible and I can always tell if I’m at an angle. Shoulders must be rolled back and wrists straight as well (I used to curl my hands and wrists inward, and I think it was causing carpal tunnel).

All of this, just to get to sleep 😳. 

I told my therapist about this once and even though she would never say it, I know she thought I was 🤪 (just kidding, but it did fascinate her 😁). We have an idea about the cause, but that’s another story for another day 😊.

I share all of this to show you we all have our quirks (ok, in this case, issues 😆) but if we can invite others to laugh with us, they aren’t such a big deal, are they? Unless you’re trying to go to sleep 🤣🤣🤣.

The struggle is real y’all…

💜 Me