Learning to Take My Own Advice

I think I give fairly good advice. Not always the best and rarely spectacular, but most often solid and good. Like tonight when I counseled our eighth grade son to go to bed rather than to stay up and finish his homework. It was already after eleven o’clock. It was late. He was tired. It was definitely time for him to go to bed.

I appreciate how strong his impulse is to complete his assignments, but I also know the importance of getting enough sleep. Wait, what? Then why am I here writing this at 2 a.m.? Why can’t I seem to follow my own advice and go to bed, if not at a reasonable hour, at least when I am tired (how many times this week have I fallen asleep either at the computer or while reading?). I can’t remember the last time I truly got enough sleep!

Not a good plan. Certainly not a sustainable plan.

Being tired affects my productivity. I just can’t accomplish as much when I am battling yawns and fighting to focus on what needs doing. And multitasking is out of the question!

Being tired dampens my mood. I find that I am more melancholy and much less patient when I haven’t had enough sleep. The tasks which are normally disagreeable become seemingly insurmountable.

And being tired isn’t good for my weight. I find I eat more to keep myself going and I make poorer choices about which foods to eat.

So why am I not in bed, asleep, right now? Clearly I need to learn to start following my own advice! Okay, actually it is my sister’s advice as she is always telling me I need to get more sleep. But whether hers or mine, it is definitely good advice!