Resolution #248: Stop Sleeping With My Cell Phone Near My Bed...

Date: 9-5-2014

Due Date: 9-5-2015

Resolution: I've been struggling with Resolution #36 to stop sleeping with the TV on. I was good at it for about a month but then TV in bed slowly crept back into my life. I just needed something to distract me from my thoughts and music wasn't cutting it.

I don't know if it's the meds but a few days ago I was trying to sleep but my thoughts were racing. This time I wanted the silence so I could focus on what I wasn't thinking. These were positive thoughts about my projects and not self-hating thoughts about doom and gloom.

I shut off the TV and had a good night’s sleep.

The only problem was every time I woke to go to the bathroom or to grab a drink of water I found myself checking my phone. Sometimes I think I even woke up just to check the phone.

Last night I dropped into bed too exhausted to get back up when I noticed I left my phone on my desk. I slept straight through the night for the first time in years. I think part of the reason is that I knew I had no distractions anywhere within reach.

It was nice.

I'm going to continue this undistracted sleep in a silent environment.

Result #248: I Was Really Good At Sleeping Sans-Phone For A Few Months… But… I’ve Recently Fallen Back To Old Ways…

Update #1: The Conclusion…

Date: 9-5-2015

Just like many of these resolutions I started this one, to stop sleeping with my cell phone near my bed, very strong. I went months making sure that the phone was across the room from me when decided it was time to go to bed.

Then I moved back home to San Diego feeling pretty defeated which led to a lack of discipline in pretty much all facets of my life. 

Now I'm back to sleeping with my phone in the bed with the excuse that I don't have a clock. This is sort of a lie because I now set my own schedule and don't really need to know what time it is when I wake up. It's also a lie because I end up using it to surf the internet when I am feeling sleepless but since it doesn't matter when I wake it doesn't matter when I sleep so I am in a vicious cycle of apathy.

Who knows.

Maybe someday I'll figure it out and may or may not revisit this goal to give up the phone in bed. If I do, I may or may not keep you posted.