I was feeling stressed out and overwhelmed a couple hours ago. I don’t usually get stressed out or worried, but I had a lot things to do. My one college class was turning out to be harder than I expected. I’m getting more homework than I thought I would. Of course, I always have a lot to do as the Student Association Religious VP. And the other big thing on my mind, starting a new web-based business, was taking much more time and hard work than I expected. I was stressed out.

I thought, what should I do? Hmm, what about praying about my concerns and worries? I tried praying but my mind was only coming up with garbled, incoherent prayers. “God, help me with, um, um, my cooking.” Huh? “Lord, please help me figure out girls.” What? I wasn’t concerned about that. “God, please give me strength to… to… do… something… good… or… cool.” I couldn’t even understand what I was praying. My mind was wandering like crazy. I wasn’t making any sense to myself or to God.

Then, I realized… I was tired. Dead tired. I just came from class where it took all my energy not to fall asleep. (There’s only five students in the class.) But when I got home, I was so focused on getting stuff done that I forgot how tired I was.

Nap time. I set my alarm for an hour nap, jumped in bed, and feel asleep. I must’ve been really sleep deprived because I when I heard the alarm, I just turned it off and slept for another hour.

I don’t like taking naps. It doesn’t feel right. It feels so unproductive. However, I feel so much better as I write this. My mind is working again. I’m writing this semi-understandable blog entry. I’m thinking clearly. I’m not stressed out. I’m not worried. I don’t feel overwhelmed. In fact, I feel I have the energy to conquer my to do list.

Maybe I need to take more naps. I was so fatigued I couldn’t do anything productive anyways. I mean, what was I gonna do, force myself to stay up and do crappy work?

John Ortberg wrote in God Is Closer Than You Think (bold supplied):

Lack of sleep causes people to argue with spouses and friends, do subpar work, be less loving and more irritable with children and friends, and generally feel miserable. It’s hard to live like Jesus if you’re sleep deprived. (If you don’t believe me, get close to a sleep-deprived person and see.)

But we put up with it… We accept feeling tired and sleepy as if it were normal. We complain or even brag about how little we sleep.

Arranging to get enough sleep is actually an act of discipleship.

That last quote struck me. I don’t listen to my body when it’s telling me “I need sleep!” until I’m practically gonna pass out. This is not a good, healthy habit (especially since I drive.)

Maybe this doesn’t relate to you. You actually go to sleep when you’re sleepy. But I know that for some of you reading this (especially if you’re in college or married with kids), you’re tempted to keep working/studying/playing/talking/
cleaning/etc. even though you’re dead tired and sleepy.

Maybe I’m doing too much. Maybe you’re doing too much. Maybe we need to ask ourselves this question: “What activities in my life should I cut so I can make space for enough sleep?”

What kind of person are you? Do you get enough sleep? Or are you like me, someone who must discipline himself to get enough sleep?