Read it to believe it!

Having a sleepless night is no more an issue now, here is the easiest way

Last Tuesday, I suddenly woke up from deep slumber in the middle of the night. It wasn’t a nightmare or a sound that interrupted my sleep and made me sit up as early as 2:45 a.m. As if it has been a daily routine, I switched on the kitchen light, drank a glass of water and returned back to bedroom. Usually, I go back to sleep in shortest possible time. But that night was meant to be different and longer too.

Amidst constantly changing thoughts, the sleep was nowhere in sight. More I tried to sleep the more restless I became. Well aware of the hectic schedule lined-up the following, I even tried to convince my mind that I need to go back to sleep as early as possible. But one thought lead to another and instead of helping me to catch upon my remaining sleep time it deprived me of it all the more. It was nearing 4:00 a.m. and I knew that even if I do get sleep it won’t last for more than two hours as for years I have been waking up sharp at 6:00 a.m. irrespective of the time I hit the sack previous night.

Just as I was about to give up on my efforts to catch upon some sleep, I remembered my board exam days. Considering that early morning studies are better and your mind is fresh and more receptive, my mother used to wake me up at 5:00 a.m. and by 5:30 a.m. I was at my desk reading some or the other subject notes. But after first 15 minutes, due to pin drop silence all around and cool early morning breeze, I would dose off on the desk only to wake up at mother’s call for tea. Till date she believes that if I did clear my board exam it was only due to early morning studies. I don’t wish to give her sleepless nights now by admitting my guilt.

Confident that reading a book in these wee hours would still have the same impact on me, I headed towards my personal library and picked up a fattest one I could lay my hands on. At times I believe that bigger the size of the book, there are more chances of feeling bored followed by feeling sleepy. And in no time I was yawning, but actually dozing off on my reading table. No offence meant to the renowned author whose latest book now lay beside my sleepy head.

I opened my eyes when the newspaper guy rang the door-bell, enough an indication that I had slept way beyond my permissible limits. Even before I could get going with my morning tasks, I grabbed the newspaper and began to read. What actually caught my attention was the anchor story of the day, the headline read: SLEEP DEPRIVATION LEADS TO STROKE.

I am happy that I re-discovered the old formula to fill in the sleep deficit. Thanks to my mother, next time I wakeup in the middle of the night I know exactly where to head and what to do.