Amanda Blackman's Dark Place

Photo credit: Taelar Pollman · The Sentry

Like most of us, the new forever-at-home vibe to life has changed my sleeping schedule. For some people I know (aka my husband), bedtimes are getting pushed way back. Some people I know of are even becoming fully nocturnal. Their bedtime hovers around 7am, and the day starts in the evenings, when for me, on the other hand, my day is completely wrapped. Instead of shifting to a later bedtime, my days are starting and ending way, way earlier. Yesterday I went to bed at 8:30. 8:30, people! I don’t even need an alarm to wake up early, I’m already there. I love waking up early, having a lazy morning, getting some work done, and then fully getting into the swing of my day.

But recently, I’ve been dealing with something that I don’t love. I can’t sleep anymore. I wake up throughout the night, and I can’t go back to sleep for hours. I don’t know if my brain is ready to go and start my day, but I’m sure as not ready to get up at 3:30 and start the day fully indoors.

I’ve never really dealt with insomnia in my life. When I get tired, I’m out, right then and there. If I’m in the middle of a movie or show or reading the most action-packed book, there’s no fighting it. So now that I can’t just magically fall asleep anymore, I’m looking for anything to make my brain shut up and let me sleep.

I think I found the strangest possible thing, but let me tell you, it works.

Allow me to introduce you to the BBC’s Shipping Forecast. There’s no way to describe it other than beautiful nonsense read in calming British accents. Here, take a listen. Report back here when you’ve listened to a random minute or so.

… Isn’t that nonsense?! It’s perfect for making your brain say, “…Wait what?” instead of “Let’s think about everything you have to do today!” Until my sleep will return to normal, I’ll be here, listening to this video on repeat.