When You're Living in a Constant State of Sleep Deprivation

Wake up. No, I don’t just mean wake up. I mean wake your brain up.

Wake your brain up on time – that means early enough to be able to lay there for a couple hours until the rest of your body wants to follow (that part won’t happen most days).

Get in the shower.

Don’t just turn the water on and accidentally fall asleep again.

Get in the shower.

No, you don’t have to wash your hair today, I know it hurts to bring your arms all the way up there.

Don’t sit down – you will fall asleep.

Don’t close your eyes – you will fall asleep.

Show up to work. No, I mean show up to work. You have a whole list of things to get done today. Remember all the things you couldn’t finish yesterday? Those rolled over to today’s list.

Breathe.

Don’t forget to breathe.

But don’t relax too much or you will fall asleep.

Don’t stop working. You can only stop when it’s break time.

Lunch time.

Don’t eat – there’s not time – you have to sleep.

You’re already behind on work this week so if you sleep now, you’ll feel better when you go back to work. Sleep.

Wake up! No – I mean really wake up!

Get back to work – you’re late again! You shouldn’t have let yourself fall asleep, you knew this would happen.

You should have eaten – just grab a granola bar. That will help.

Get back to work.

Pretend you’re not struggling to keep your eyes open.

Don’t stop working.

Get the list done.

You have to finish today – you didn’t finish yesterday.

You have to get it all done.

You can’t stay late – no, I mean physically – you can’t stay late. You’re unable to.

You have to get home.

You need to sleep.

Just forget the last few things on the list – they can wait until tomorrow.

You have to get to bed immediately – but wait – you have to make it there first. I know, I know, it’s only a 10 minute drive.

But you have to make it there.

Open your eyes.

Get in your car.

Stay awake. This is only a stop sign, you have to move your car soon.

Don’t even blink – it’s not worth the risk.

Open your eyes! How long were they closed for? You have to make it there! Sleep is coming.

Park your car.

Turn it off.

Get out!

Don’t fall asleep in your car like the last time. Sleep is coming.

Don’t even take your things inside, I know your muscles can’t carry anything else today. Just get inside. Sleep is coming.

Dog. Take the dog outside. Pray that she gets done with her business quickly. Sleep is coming.

Don’t fall asleep on the sidewalk. Don’t sit down. Don’t fall down. Just get back inside. Sleep is coming.

Don’t worry about making it to your bed – the stairs are impossible right now. Just get to the couch. Sleep is coming.

Just get to the – wait! You forgot!

Get up, you have plans! You forgot. You’re late – you have to go.

Get up!

Stumble out the door.

Start your car.

Open your eyes.

Drive.

You know what, no. Focus on you, they’ll understand. You need to sleep.

You’ll feel better when you sleep.

Just tell them you’ll be late. 30 minutes – that’s all you need. OK, maybe an hour, but you’ll be fine once you sleep.

Take more medicine now so it might kick in before your alarm goes off, that way you might actually hear it.

Sleep…Relief…Sleep…Sleep…Sleep…

Wake up! It’s 3 a.m.!

You missed your plans – how did you not hear your phone blowing up?!

You did it again – you bailed again. They’re going to think you’re a bad friend. They’re going to think you don’t care. You’re going to lose everyone.

Stop being so flaky. Why would anyone want to be your friend?

You can’t do this. You sleep too much, you skip everything – you bailed again.

Just go back to bed. You’re tired. No – you’re completely drained. There’s no point fighting it now, you have nothing left for today.

You have to go back to sleep so you can wake up in the morning.

You have to do it all over again tomorrow.

Stop making plans after work, you know you can’t make it.

Sleep.

Just forget dinner now, it’s too late – you need to sleep.

You need to do it all over again tomorrow.

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Thinkstock Image By: JordanSimeonov