How Not to Fall Asleep

It was worth a try…

Image created by ChatGPT

To hear the related 5-minute audio file that I uploaded today as my Morning Journal flash briefing for Alexa devices, please click on the play button:

Oura Advisor Strikes Out

As I get to know the impressive capabilities of my Oura Ring, better sleep is my prime goal.

Yesterday, in Oura Advisor’s diplomatic feedback on yet another night of lousy sleep, I was intrigued at the suggestion that I try to NOT fall asleep in the middle of the night. The power of paradox, the advisor counseled.

I never sleep well before a big trip like today’s Snow Bird Migration from RSW to PWM, so at 3:30 am I decided to try the counterintuitive advice. I decided to stay awake until 4 am.

Instead of following my breath or silently reciting the Jesus Prayer, I active engaged every random thought that came my way, from Trump to how I might control the thermostat remotely with my iPhone when we’re in Maine. Bring it!

At first I kept my eyes open, but that grew tiresome (a good omen, I thought), so I allowed my eyelids to close with the promise that I would stay awake without the distractions of seeing the room.

When I noticed a pause between breaths and then a big, natural, fill-the-lungs inhale, I thought Oura’s method might be working.

I kept going, wondering if 4 am had arrived yet. When I finally glanced at my watch, it read 4:20 am. That made me smile, and I’m not holding a grudge against my biometric ring master.

When my sleep data arrived on my iPhone, here is the graph showing the sad, white bar of being totally awake:

One of the thoughts that had kept me awake was the title of a poem about being a Snow Bird. I got up quietly and headed for my Lab to see if there was a real poem available. Here is the result:

SNOW BIRD

Something stirs
      in my wings
thrum of Maine surf, 
attenuation of palm trees
   bending my way, ready
to let go—again
the lifting off for
faraway summer.