I’m probably not doing it right
But I think it’s working anyway. I love my new lightbox. L.O.V.E.
I have the floor light set to a timer and it turns on around 5:30 a.m. My alarm (radio) goes off at 5:45. At 6:00 (usually) I turn on my SAD lightbox that I have set up next to my bed and then either
- sit on the edge of the bed or lay facing the light
- knit
- read
- work on the computer
After the timer goes off in 30 minutes, I usually keep going for about 10 minutes more. Or 30 more. Don’t judge.
But I can actually feel my body waking up. It’s not just my brain or eyes. I feel it in my core.Maybe it’s just taking more time and being gentler with myself in the morning.
My usual MO is to jump out of bed and start at 70 mph. What a shock, I know. And then jump on the belittling bandwagon when I feel like crap for doing that. Another surprising character trait. whatever.
So, whether it’s taking time or the light (but I’m sure it’s got a LOT to do with the light) I’m feeling a ton better than a couple of weeks ago. Even with the cold. Even with the lack of sleep lately.
Yesterday when I was soooo tired (long week last night combined with staying up way too late Monday night upgrading my silver surfer) I felt OK, just tired. I did not feel like I was dragging a bucket of bricks around with me everywhere.
My advice? Everyone at 45 degrees or further north should be issued one of these at the onset of adolescence.
Note: Wordpress is being weird and not putting in or even keeping paragraph breaks. Sorry for the crappy look of this post. OK. From work it works. Is there something about Safari they’re not telling me??
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
weak-end(s NOW) 2009
Weird Dreams #3 2008
Good space 2006
A final whine before bed 2005
Step 1 finished: He’s got the papers 2005
Still Emotionally Absent 2005
wasting time on Monday 2005
October 31st, 2007 at 10:52 am
Hmmmmm….a light box huh? I might have to look into that.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:50 pm
That sounds wonderful. I’ll probably really need one by February.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:35 pm
My Doctor said the lightboxes don’t work, but sometimes even doctors are wrong. It could also be the new way in which you are waking up, it certainly sounds like a better way to start the day.
One semester in high school I took a fantasy art class as my first class in the morning. It was the best semester ever. I got up eager to get to the class and then allow myself slowly wake up and relax about the art projects we were doing.
I didn’t have any expectaions to do it well, I just wanted to try it. It was revitializing!
-P