"How to log out in 2022"

“How to log out in 2022”

Promises I’m making to rest more

The art of “logging out in 2022”. Another performance of heroic efforts brought to us by the past couple of years. Just your favorite main character, a tragic hero, maybe someone closely resembling your inner thoughts/self and on the outside as fit as you before everything happened. (A sleep hero would be nice at this point) . My inner thoughts and process for “logging out” in the era of aimless scrolling — for when I no longer need to sleep at 3 am.

I’ve felt sad and have been mourning the loss of many people in my life as a result of COVID including my great grandmother, which has kept me up at night. Not to mention, the rush of everything at work, juggling a small business, and the responsibility of a family. I think I’ve shut off my sleep routine to let my mind wander about everything going on and how surreal this has all been. I don’t think that’s a good thing. It's hard to go back to a routine once it's been broken.

It often sounds like the pandemic is still not completely behind us, however, things are not where they began and as we move forward there is still a lot of our present and future to live out. How that looks like in my home is up to me. I should take advantage of a new year to make sure getting a full night’s rest, which is so important, is a priority.

I don’t mean it in the sense that work or family or mourning comes second to sleep, because those are fine things to set as priorities and yet of course – In order to make sure I get some rest I must believe it is important and also a priority in my personal routine.

Therefore, I promise myself to make a plan to rest more: after years of working and mourning through a pandemic I ought to remind myself that a full night’s rest is free. That is my motivation.

Now that I’ve sat down on my bed I will think of how to unwind. I’ll pick one of three to begin with, a tea, a favorite show, or a warm shower. In no particular order or in the order that makes sense for the day, for example, I could warm-up water, let my tea sit for a bit while I shower, then sit back and enjoy a show. On other days a shower could be nice.

I won't add in which show, but I'd prefer something funny. I will let the show take me to where I finish my tea, turn the tv off (that’s important) , wash my cup, brush my teeth, come back to bed, lights- off, and take a few breaths.

I'm aware that this sounds like a simple list but I believe looking back at the basics is important. I don’t think mending the sleep cycle and routine is an easy thing; it will take repetition . The classic routine needs some practice because it has been lost under everything including work things, sweats and home lounge wear.

It’s good practice to begin at the basics and reel back into a full fledged routine with all the tricks. Once I allow myself to get some rest I am also reminded that nothing else matters. Letting go of every thought right before a good night's rest is freeing, and focusing on my rest is priceless.

Hope this not only helps me but maybe others like me who wish to get back to the basics.