Sleep
My blog host had some issues yesterday. In case you missed my entry on our weekend spent camping, you can catch up on it here.
Over the weekend, Sweets and I changed up our sleep schedules a bit. When you’re camping, you pretty much rise when the sun tells you its time to get up. Sunshine makes its way through every crack and crevice of a camper. Or tent. Especially when you leave most of the makeshift windows open to ensure air flow during the night.
Therefore, you’re either going to sleep earlier or taking a mid-afternoon nap to fill in the gap of the lost sleep in the mornings. On Day 1 of camping, I chose the nap, so I could stay up late with our friends. On Day 2, I powered through without a nap and then collapsed around 9PM. On Monday, after another early rise with the sun, I was so very eager when Sweets suggested we go to sleep by 9PM in order to be ready for work on Tuesday.
At one point over the weekend, Sweets suggested the possible positive effects of a sleep schedule that aligns with the rising and setting of the sun. We briefly discussed the idea: wake up when the sun rises (around 5:30AM at this time of year) and go to sleep soon after the sun sets (around 8:00PM at this time of year). I added to the discussion that we should probably eliminate TV during that time to avoid getting too involved with a show (and pushing off the time we go to sleep). He agreed.
When I think about it more, it makes sense. I mean, there was a time when lights weren’t available. And people did rise with the sun. And go to sleep after candles burned out. There has to be a cumulative benefit to sleeping 9-10 hours versus the 6-7 hours I now get. I’m not sure we’ll ever be regimented enough to change our schedule so drastically. But, it would be interesting to try.
On a related note, we rarely heard our neighbors while camping. We could see their campsites. And tents. And fire pits. But, really didn’t hear much. Except for one afternoon. When the father at our neighbor site was trying to get his kids to take a nap. And on multiple occasions, he’d walk back over to the tent and yell, “NO MORE TALKING. GO TO SLEEP. NOW!” I couldn’t help but giggle. Oh forget it, I was have an all-out laugh party. It was hilarious. Mostly because I related to those kids, wanting to break the rules and have fun. It is vacation, after all.
Sweets made some comment to the effect of, “You think it’s pretty funny sitting on *this* side of the fence, don’t you?!” And you know what? I did think it was funny then and still do now. I’m not a parent and don’t profess to know what’s best for all children. But, one thing I do know is you can’t expect to keep the exact same schedule for your kids while you’re on vacation. They’re fully charged and rearing to go. So what if they miss a nap. Or talk quietly while resting (instead of outright napping). Schedules and routine goes out the window (in my honest opinion, you can’t control everything) and we should be able to adapt to new schedules. Kids are more bendable than we think; they’re not going to break if they don’t have a nap from 2-3 every afternoon. (Go on, parents, tell me how wrong I am. I pretty much know I’ll be biting my tongue if/when the time comes for me to be a parent and my child/children have breakdowns.)
One other story I forgot to share in yesterday’s recap. Sweets and I were driving when we saw two people walking along the side of the road. They were holding what Sweets thought was a fishing pole. And so, in the most sarcastic manner possible, he says, “Must be some heavy fishing pole they’ve got.” Implying that it really shouldn’t take two people to carry such a pole. Until he quickly recanted and said, “Oh, or the guy is blind.” As in, indeed, yes, one of the two people was blind and the other was using the pole to guide him. Nice, Sweets, nice.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
As someone who has struggled with insomnia all her known life, the sleeping with the setting of the sun and getting up when it rises really is the best answer for me. I align my body with the natural order of the world and things seem to go much, much better. Although it stinks for nighttime chats on the phone with friends and family. And they certainly don’t want me calling them at six in the morning!
September 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
On Monday and Wednesday’s I am awake with the sun, and I definitely see the benefits…
Speaking of blind…the college freshman is in a play, “The Miracle Worker” and there have been many unfortunate blind misunderstandings…e.g.
Me: Are you the youngest in the play?
CF: No, there are several little BLONDE girls.
Mr. P: OH MY GOD, they found actual BLIND girls to play Helen Keller?
and so on and so forth.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Should Irish & I come prepared for early to bed/early to rise in a few weeks? =) I always love it when I get up earlier than usual because my day is just that much better/longer/inspired/accomplished BUT I drag around 8pm which I suppose is normal but I struggle with adjusting to it.
I usually opt for naps in the afternoon if at all possible.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
oh hooray! i was unable to get to your site yesterday, so i’m happy the internetiverse is allowing me to today ;-)
i ALMOST can see myself doing that sleep schedule….. except that so many fun things happen after dark! and i’d be miserable knowing people were out having fun and i was in bed. (uh, sort of exactly like kids who have to go to bed early, come to think of it..?)
September 9th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
My son always had a pretty structured “nap time” (that may or may not actually involve sleep). To this day, he has a one hour rest time where he goes in his room, closes his door, and does whatever he wants. A little downtime for everyone. But vacation? Camping? No way. The only people who spend vacations napping are some adults.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I find that it is so much easier to get out of bed during the summer when the sun is already up. During the winter months, waking up before the sun rises is so freaking difficult. I’m interested to hear about the results of your little sleep study!
September 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
If I did that then I’d never get up in the winter. I’d probably hibernate like a bear.
I wish I were kidding.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
omg i’d give anything to get 9 hours of sleep. i’d give a pinky for it. i haven’t slept a full night since i was 6 mos pregnant. i kid you not. enjoy it.
and what sweets said…proverbial foot in mouth.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
ha, that story about the “fishing pole” got me. how would you know, right?!
and im not sure if i could do the 530am rise EVERY day (on weekends), but something about the idea of it is intriguing. it worked a long time ago!
September 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I totally agree on the schedule thing. And I also think the sleep thing sounds like an interesting experiment, but I am totally not going to try it.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
LOL. I love the fishing pole story! I seem to be more productive once the sun goes down. I am not sure why, but that is my bio-rhythm.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I don’t think I have ever risen or slumbered to the tune of the sun. Might have to try it sometime… I agree that it’s clock was probably invented for more of a reason than just to measure calendar’s with – we should get more sleep and do less work!
I like your thinking about the nap. I have noticed that when I am traveling somewhere, I have all sorts of boundless energy (car rides the exception). Maybe it’s because I am not in my normal routine. And maybe it’s simply because I am not bored. But I look back sometimes on all that I managed to do when traveling and wonder, “How the crap did I have enough energy to get that all done?” (For example, one day in China I woke up at 4am, drove to the Great Wall, climbed UP 2 miles of it, drove back to Beijing, and still had energy to go out and party that night). Then I remember the 2-day nap I took upon my return home and it makes a little more sense ;)
September 9th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I don’t think I’d ever be able to get used to rising with the sun. Unless I was retired. And lived in Hawaii. Until that happens, I will struggle for 7:00. There’s nothing better than a solid 8-9 hour night of sleep. Good luck with your study!
September 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I think that the sleep thing sounds good, but what are you going to do in the winter when the sun doesn’t come up until really late? Will you get into work on time?
September 9th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I am so envious of the people that can even function on 6 hours of sleep. I would get so much more done. Less than 7 hours for more than a day and I actually feel sick. :(
Over the weekend I did a lot of going to bed early and getting up early, but my alarm was set so that I could get things done. What a lame way to spend my holiday weekend, eh?
September 9th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Oh man if I got up with the sun, I would have to take an afternoon nap. Otherwise I’d get CRAZY fussy. In our Door cottage, I put blankets over the flimsy drapes so I wasn’t awoken too early.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:13 am
You make your children take a nap so you don’t lose your mind. Period : ) Any benefit to them is a side issue. Ha. By 2pm you will kill to make that nap happen! It’s not about parenting styles. It’s about parenting exhaustion : )
I’d love to hear if you pull of the sleep schedule. Yet another thing I know would make me feel better(more sleep) and yet I carry on depriving myself.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
To this day, thats how my grandparents are. I do that when I’m at the lake, but I am always glad to get back on my sleep (or lack there of) schedule. I’m just naturally a night owl.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
The thing is, if I woke up at sunrise, I’d be late to work in the winter and have to go to be before I even got home too!