Sleep hacking

I hadn't complained about sleeping problems (rather, waking-up problems) for a while because I was into a pretty good groove, but I popped out of it again with Daylight Savings. I don't think the hour-shift is directly responsible, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a generally seasonal thing. (Some weird kind of inverse SAD where my body is content to happily sleeeeeep through the lovely sunny weather.)

So, another round of trying some new fixes. I have a couple of ideas and I think they may work.

First of all, no more video games after "a certain hour" for me. I find the more absorbing electronic games -- immersive action-adventure games like the Deus Ex I'm currently playing, or drag-you-along-by-the-nose board games like ol' Civ -- to be a mental stimulant at least as strong as caffeine. Not only do they keep me awake while I am playing them, but I remain mentally jazzed for some time afterwards. Heretofore I have thought nothing of popping in a game, before bed, coz it was just like reading myself to sleep, right? Uh-huh. I think of the tobacco lobby saying that a ciggy is no more harmful than a Twinkie.

Secondly, I think I'm going to buy this watch, even though I wrote them to ask for more info about their guarantee and they never wrote back. It's gotten some nice reviews (I heard about it from more neutral sites), and it's not terribly expensive; I'm willing to gamble a coupla C-notes on the promise of better sleep, and better waking. (Through science!)

(no subject)

Now that Zuby has discovered the wastebasket in the dining room she just can't not jump into it. A lot.

She had to pull it down, walk in, and then have me tip it back up before she realized what a magical experience being in the wastebasket is.