It’s 11 p.m. My blue light-emitting cell phone has been on Night Mode for the past hour. I’ve generously sprayed lavender sleep mist on my pillows. My blackout eye mask is on my nightstand. And I’m reading a chapter of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life from a real, physical book, not my Kindle. In short, I have done every damn thing imaginable to turn my bedroom into a peaceful haven, perfectly calibrated for me to fall asleep minutes after the lights go out.
But the second I switch that light off, a switch in my brain flips on, helpfully reminding me of all the things I have to worry about before I can comfortably fall asleep:
When was the last time you got blood tests? What if there’s something wrong?
Hey, remember that big trip you have coming up in four months? Have you thought about every single item you might need to purchase and pack before them? Nope? Well, no time like the present!
Your boyfriend’s parents aren’t going to be impressed with a new set of wine glasses as an anniversary present. Better come up with a dozen equally awful ideas, just in case.
The news. All of it. All of the news. Just… ugh.