No Sleep Till ...?

I'm attempting to break a napping addiction. Between my medication, anxiety, the weather, the holidays, etc., I've become a nap junkie. In fact, I'm not sure that "nap" even covers it any longer. "Nap" is too polite a word for sleeping all night and then another four hours plus during the day.

It started off innocently enough - just take a little rest in the morning after a rough night of sleep. And the next thing I know, I'm going back to bed, sleeping until 10:30, working, taking another nap later in the day that's only as short as it is because Andrew comes home, working in the evening to catch up, staying up late because I can't sleep, and then starting the whole thing over again the next day. The insomnia at night has been useful. I read, I work, I wander around the house, but even when I do sleep at night, the next day I'm still exhausted.

So, operating on the theory that sleep begets more sleep, I'm attempting to break the habit. No caffeine after 8:00, and less of it during the day. A sleeping pill every night for one week to reestablish sleep patterns. Warm milk before bed, and bed at the same time every night. I've even gone so far as to create a success chart for myself and offer bribes for making it through January and February without sleeping. It's early days, so I'm still in that hopeful stage of withdrawal, the "this is going to be a breeze" stage. I feel like a Civil War soldier: I'll have this problem whipped and be home in time for dinner!

The reality, however, is that it's a little like not having electricity. You know how that goes when the power is out, and you think, "Well, I'll just fold this laundry, light a candle and make myself a mug of tea. Oh. Right. I can't boil water." or "It's a little cold in here. I'll get a blanket, put on a sweatshirt and turn on the space heater." I keep making these little plans for my day, doing this, then that, then taking a nap, then.... Oh. *sigh*