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| Hi all I'm the only breadwinner in my family (my spouse has health problems) and I work long hours (get up at 4.30am before a 2 hour commute, work from 07:00 to 16:00, get home just after 18:30). My main writing time is therefore in the evening, after an early dinner. I down tools at about 22:00. Problem is, when I go to bed, I can't turn my brain off. I know I have to be up in 6.5 hours, but my thoughts go round in circles, bits of dialogue pop into my head along with new ideas for plot twists, etc. I keep a notebook by my bed so that I can jot them down and put them out of my mind, but hours after going to bed I'm still awake, with thoughts still churning round and round. Most nights I'm still awake at 1am or 2am, and it's getting ridiculous! Short of giving up writing on weekdays completely, I'm not sure how to break this cycle. I could stop earlier I suppose, but I only have two and a half hours writing time on a weekday anyway. Does anyone have any good ideas? |
| I completely understand your challenge. I also have this trouble. No matter when I go to bed early, late or somewhere in between it matters not. The only way I get sleep is when exhaustion sets in. I've tried many things, researching through out the internet i have found a lot of suggestions and items which are supposed to help a person get to sleep but, none of these work for me. Do some research and try some of the things to see if they help. Most of the time I get my best sleep in the very early morning until about 9 or 10 am. One thing I try not to do is take a nap. If I do this it seems sleep is more elusive. I'm certain that because of my multiple medical issues, these are part of the reasons why I do not get to sleep quickly. Another thing is I've tried to reset my internal clock which wasn't successful. My best guess is that I'm a bit of a night owl and possibly because there is a huge amount of musician running through my veins this too may contribute to my sleep challenges. Having a comfortable place/situation should help, eating and drink things which have the sleep helps may ease this challenge, and maybe having a sleep study might help. Let me know how you are doing. Safe travels and many blessings. Viv (dogpack) & Bella (service dog) http://mydoterra.com/vivianpaff "disABILITY WRITERS GROUP"  Everyone is welcome to join our family."ONE SIZE FITS ALL RAFFLE IS OPEN!" Give a no hassle gift for any occasion."disABILITY WRITERS MOUNTAIN LOG CABIN" Join our gab cabin activities.http://mydoterra.com/vivianpaff |
| Insomnia! - I know many suggest the notebook by the bed idea but I'm wondering if it's a good thing for those who have trouble sleeping. If you are like me, once I jot something down or think of something that may work in my story my mind kicks in overdrive. Every notebook entry can cost me more than 1 hour of sleep. I need to stop writing at night and completely forget about it, then I am able to fall asleep. My suggestion is just that, a suggestion that may or may not be of any value to you. Since you are using a notebook and thinking about dialogue and new ideas for plot twists you have a writing system that can be very beneficial and be more organized that those who wing it. Have you thought about using your notebook in the morning? Just one idea you can jot down while getting ready for work. You mentioned a two hour commute and of course if you are driving which I presume you are you don't need to be distracted so most likely the time in your car is off limits. But if you are able to come up with just one entry for your notebook on your way to work you can jot it down after your commute. Your lunch hour may be another time you can add another entry. After several entries look them over and decide were you want to go with your story line. If you are this type of writer you can start the notebook process again and this time make a loose outline. This too may be just a single entry done in bits and pieces, whether it's early morning, during your commute or your lunch hour. If possible and it may not be, shorten the time of your evening writing, which I know you don't want to do, and see if you are able to completely clear your mind of the process. I understand there is a certain amount of stress in knowing you only have two and half hours of weekday writing time. I tried using the notebook method and I couldn't sleep and if I fell asleep I would jerk awake and immediately my mind would fill with "what might work." These are just some thoughts and they may or may not work for you. Linda |
Personally, a Benadryl tends to do the trick for me MOST nights.   ~~SM
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 20 GPs were sent to Pepys  with this post. |
Melatonin, 10 mg, and a tryptophan cap. Safe, natural and effective. __________________________________________________ If voting made a difference, they'd outlaw it Writing Hurts Sm logo |
| Pepys - I forgot to mention in my reply to your post that I can identify with what is going on with you and your writing. My experience with the notebook by the bed is that it created a new problem for me. When I made an entry I couldn't say, "This is one part of my story, I think this will work." No, I didn't see the entry as just one piece of my story. My mind would start whirring with every entry in the notebook, jumbling them all together. I was looking for a polished piece of writing that somehow I was going to miraculously create before I fell asleep. The suggestions I sent earlier seem quite disjointed (a slower step by step process) as far as completing a story. Also, I forgot to mention that if a outline works for you then some of the pressure concerning the amount of time you have to write may be alleviated. Even though it's a slower process it might be a more productive one. Those who can use the bedtime notebook are most fortunate. Just imagine, jotting down an idea and saying, "Time to get back to sleep." For me, using the notebook at night is like the light bulb flashing in the cartoon caption, and I can't sleep with the light on. |
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