Don't Engage Your Brain!

"Bored Cat" by David Wagner

I shouldn't be writing at this late at night because I don't want to engage my brain. It's only 9 pm, but I run the risk of my brain thinking long after I retire for the night. I already take sleeping pills and this may counteract their effect. This is partially a symptom of bipolar, but it goes for everybody.

For sleep hygiene, you shouldn't engage your brain near bedtime. The news before bed or crime shows lead to worse sleep. And it leads to bad dreams. Don't you want happy dreams? Writing 3 good things before bed led to a good dream for me.

Leave heavy subjects for earlier in the day. Besides a tired brain isn't the best for solving world dilemmas.

How do I disengage my brain at night?

I put on the same music at night on my computer while I play boring computer games. I like solitaire and freecell. However, the matching game on Purble Place takes too much brain power. Anything else engages my brain. Must disengage brain. Must be bored near bed time. Let my eyes droop.

My frenemies near bedtime are a good book, series on Netflix with an engaging plot, or a new blog to explore.

The last hour or two before bedtime is about powering down, not revving up. So veg before bed with boring repetitive stuff. It'll put you to sleep like an infant during daytime (not nighttime).

What's on my playlist?

I know you're dying to know what my playlist is. I like to have songs that feel calm, spiritual, nostalgic, or relaxing. Here goes:

• Wunderkind by Alanis Morissette (love the Joan of Arc reference)
• I Remain by Alanis Morissette
• China by Tori Amos (such a symbolic song)
• Winter by Tori Amos (father and daughter relationship)
• All I've Ever Needed by AJ Michalka (God is enough and not the world)
• Somewhere Out There from An American Tail (Who else loved the song more than the movie?)
• How Can I Not Love You by Joy Enriques from Anna and the King (the perfect unrequited love song)
• (What if God was) One of Us by Joan Osborne (I want to say, "God was one of us!")
• El-Shaddai (so symbolic of Christ)
• Un Lugar Celestial by Jaci Velasquez
• The Climb by Miley Cyrus
• The Rose by Bette Midler
• Brave by Sara Bareilles
• and more random stuff

How do you disengage your brain?