Barriers To Bedtime

I am tired!  Even before 10pm, I was ready for bed.  Obviously, I didn't go to bed - finishing a load of laundry, cutting my husband's hair, preparing food for tomorrow's meals, and preparing and eating dinner have all kept me up.  As soon as I'm done with this post, however, I'll chow down on my yogurt, start the dishwasher, and head up to bed.  Interesting how it's never a direct path straight to bed?  Something else always manages to sneak in - just one more thing before going to bed.

I'm an excellent putterer.  "Puttering" refers to my doing little things in an effort to tidy and clean up.  For some reason, my prime puttering time is after dinner and before bed.  This drives my husband crazy, as it can be quite distracting while we're watching TV.  I try, but I have a hard time sitting still, especially when I see things that are waiting to be done.  Unfortunately, I always see another thing waiting to be done and I have a really hard time with leaving it waiting until later.

Once I actually get up to bed, I sometimes have a hard time "quieting" my thoughts.  I'll think about what's on my schedule for the next day, things that are waiting to be done, stuff that I didn't get done that day.  Some of this is helpful, sort of getting me to feel prepared for the next day.  I'm okay with that because it's concrete and short-lived.  Sometimes, though, it can take on more of a rumination feel to it, as if I'm dwelling on certain things and replaying them over in my mind.  It's not productive thinking but spinning my wheels, and this typically involves thinking about something that I did or something that I "should" have done.  I'm doing better with letting these thoughts go, but it certainly can be annoying when they're keeping me from falling asleep.  One strategy that I've been using is reading a book for fun - I'll read until I fall asleep.  It's a combination of self-care (since I don't usually take the time to read anything that's not work-related) and coping strategy.  I wouldn't say that the intrusive thoughts are problematic or bothersome, but ask me again when it's 2am and sleep is eluding me....

Now for my yogurt, my book, and my pillow.  Sweet dreams!

Food Log:

• Meal 1: 
• 3 egg whites
• 30g dry cream of rice (cooked in water)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• Meal 2: 
• 2% flavored Chobani Greek Yogurt
• Meal 3: 
• 3 oz chicken
• Green beans
• 1/2c cooked rice
• Meal 4: 
• 3 oz chicken
• Green beans
• 1/2c cooked rice
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• Meal 5: 
• 0% flavored Chobani Greek Yogurt
• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Exercise:

• Time:  60 minutes on elliptical
• Level: Level 1 for 1 minute, Level 5 for 58 minutes, Level 1 for 1 minute
• Calories:  750+
• Average HR:  157
• Max HR:  174
• Distance:  5.1+ miles

Weigh-In:  146.3 / 145.1