Before I changed my blog format, I decided I would start writing about my sleep problems and my efforts to correct them. I have nightmares and night terrors and talk in my sleep. This is disconcerting to my family to say the least, and now that I’m going to conferences, it’s disturbing to my roommates too. Addressing this problem is very important to me. Some of the suggestions to reduce nightmares include avoiding caffeine and other stimulants, getting enough exercise, avoiding eating before bed, practicing relaxation, and practicing good sleep hygiene. The last one will be the hardest. Frankly, I just don’t want to get up at 3 in the morning on weekends. But as I said earlier, I will work on going to bed at the same time every night. I’m listening to my hypnosis tape and some friends are going to give me CDs of guided imagery from their spouses, who both do that professionally. I’m also cutting back on caffeine. I’m down to an average of two cups of coffee and a pop a day, and I think I can cut out the pop and one cup of coffee pretty easily.
In my new profession, the inability to share a hotel room could become a liability when it comes to conferences. I mean, no one can afford a single hotel room at those prices, and if I can’t share, I can’t go. I just don’t want to freak anyone else out. It’s humiliating for me and hardly pleasant for them.