Slow ends

2026-01-30 20:03

I also like a slow end to the day. I'm not very good in this regard. Ideally I'd have done some back and neck stretches, be kicking my feet up with a book by 8:30 and lights out by 9. I find when I do that I have the most rested sleep. But reality is different. How well I wind down at the end of the day is usually pre-empted by my afternoon (specifically my energy when I get home from work, and when I get home) and then what I choose to do with that energy.

Yesterday for example, my work day door-to-door was 7:15AM to 6:15PM - a big day for me, working on a site that has 1.5h travel time each way. I had used up all my leftovers from previous nights, so had to cook dinner when I got home. I watched an episode of The Night Agent while eating (I don't always do this, but I'm enjoying the show). This was done by 7:40PM, and then I did my strength exercises which were done by 8:40PM.

This isn't terrible so far. But this is the point where I chose not to wind down, but to ramp up. I wanted to complete part of a script I was working on, and in my head I knew how to do it. I had been churning on it through the day. Work, dinner, and exercise were complete, so now I could choose what to do next. I even thought to myself "If I start this now I'll be sacrificing some sleep, I should probably just read a book and call it a night." But the urge was there. I wanted it. So I did it, but it took me to 10:20PM. I didn't even get up off my chair for the whole 1.5 hours.

Even though I had told myself that sleep is a priority this week, I actively chose to ignore that. Instead, I opted for screen time. It's a project I'm really enjoying and I was happy with what I achieved last night, given I finished what I set out to do. Even though I was lights-out as my head hit the pillow, I knew I'd be tired in the morning. I was.

As I wrote this I was reminded I need to do a weekly review. Weekly reviews save me from making these silly decisions. I would have already decided what I would be doing with my time, and I would've decided with a clearer head, with greater areas of focus and responsibility in my mind. I would have scheduled project time in for another day at an appropriate time, and I would've been more content with the earlier night.

So, last night was an example of not having a slow end to the day. It resulted in me being tired mostly, probably a little grouchy too. It's just ticked over 8PM now. I am going to close things up and pick up the book I'm reading. I can do this.