Something miscellaneously occurred to me before bed last night.
And when things miscellaneously occur to me, I often miscellaneously decide to share them with my Smithellaneous friends.
So here’s what I was thinking about.
During the sixty seconds between the time I decide to call it a day and the time I actually close my eyes, I go through a particular to do list. And it has further occurred to me that I am possibly setting some sort of impressive world record when it comes to said lists.
And just to prove my point, I am going to share with you (in excruciating detail) the things I do in the last sixty seconds before lights out.
Shall we get started?
I turn off my tablet or lay aside my book, whichever one I happened to be using before bed.
I turn on our overhead fan. Steve very cleverly provided a remote control for the fan which is one of the best inventions since sliced bread.
I turn off the mattress pad heater.
Steve bought the heated pad as a birthday gift about twelve years ago and it is one of the best things I’ve ever gotten. It even features dual controls so that I can turn mine to the Sahara Desert setting and he can keep his on a mild, pre-heated, sort of warm-ish setting.
Now I realize that a lot of you might think it is laughable and ludicrous to even think about using a heating pad on a southern summer evening. However, there is just something about ensconcing myself in warmth while I read in bed that is comforting and relaxing.
I set my alarm clock, usually for 5:20 a.m.
And let me just say that this is not any old alarm clock.
This is a clock that my sister, Debbie, purchased when she was staying with Sarah and me at our apartment near Duke following Sarah’s bone marrow transplant.
We have had this clock for sixteen years and although it’s relatively cheap, it’s one of my most valued possessions. Back in the day, it kept me on track with Sarah’s medication schedule and since those days, it has kept watch over my comings and goings and wakened me on a thousand days. (Actually 5,840 days. I just did the math.)
I put my lovely finger brace on my most arthritic finger; it helps keep the swelling down and encourages it to be a little less crooked-y.
I turn on my white noise machine which I have been using for a couple of decades now. (Well, not this exact one. I have actually gone through three or four machines over the years.) If you’ve never tried one, I highly recommend them.
I turn off the light.
I realize this light is probably not an official bedside lamp because it’s so tall; however, we have had our matching (tall) lamps for seventeen years and have become rather attached to them.
Unfortunately, the height was a bit of a problem back in the days following my mastectomy because I couldn’t reach up and turn mine off without needing help. Steve pondered the problem momentarily and then took himself off to ACE Hardware where he got a gizmo to install on the cord so so that I could control the light without an undue amount of stretching. I have used it every day over the past 9 1/2 years and every time I do, I am thankful all over again for a great gadget and a handy husband. He’s always good at finding solutions to my problems, big and small.
It always catches my eye when I see magazine pictures of nightstands containing only a small clock and a dainty vase of fresh flowers. How does anyone get by with such a minimal amount of stuff? I’m amazed! And aghast! (And also slightly envious.)
I have managed to come to grips with the fact that my nightstand will never be featured in any magazine about minimalistic, elegant living. But a cluttered and chaotic nightstand edition? Sign me up!
Bonus question: Do you know the difference between a nightstand and a bedside table?
They’re technically the same thing but a nightstand normally has at least one drawer in it.
A bedside table does not have to have a drawer in it and could be called a night table as well.
What about you?
Can anyone beat my record?
Do you do any of the same things I do?
What are some of the things you do that I didn’t mention?
Unless I have to catch a plane or leaving on vacation (in a car), there is no way I set my alarm for that time – it helps that I am retired too. Since high school I have always put my clothes out for the next day, so I can sleep a few extra minutes, so even tho I am retired, I still do that. I also have a couple pillsI have to take in the a.m. So I get water-for those pills, and they both go on my night stand. And before I go to sleep, I watch Carol Burnett and Perry Mason.
Sharyn,
I have always admired people who get their clothes together the night before. It would probably be a good habit for me to get into because I dislike thinking about clothes in the morning.
And you have good taste in TV shows! 🙂
My night time routine is a little longer these days because I am using a CPAP machine now. I have to fill it with water and get it turned on and then on me. Before I put it on, I clean up any dishes I’ve used (I usually have a snack before bed), make sure the cats’ water is full, go potty one last time, blow my nose, wash my hands, turn my fan on (these days it’s been on already since it’s hotter than Hades here) then climb in, smile cuz I’m in my comfy bed and pray. It seems like a lot when you type it out, but it’s no more than 2-3 minutes.
Also, my night stand wouldn’t win any awards, either- it has a CPAP machine, clock and my phone on it. No pretty lamp in sight. =)
Krista,
You do really well to get all that done in 2-3 minutes! Seems like a CPAP machine would be a complicated business.
I liked when you said, “Smile cuz I’m in my comfy bed and pray.” Isn’t that the best feeling to crawl into bed, safe and warm and full of thanksgivings?
Love it!
I thought your nightstand WAS minimalistic! How special the clock must be…at first I thought how could you use the heating feature in the middle of summer, but after some thought, it does sound a little comforting – like a warm embrace. But I also enjoy crawling into cool sheets. Sleep well!
Sue Ellen,
Brrr. The very thought of cool sheets makes me, well . . . shiver!! I am ALWAYS cold in the evenings, usually wearing a big sweater while cooking dinner, so those sheets are fabulous!
But the great thing is that we get to do what we prefer. Warm for me. Cool for you. Enjoyed by both!
When I get to the bed I make sure my alarm clock is set, read my devotions (Turning Point and Our Daily Bread) if I have not done so in the den, check my walking distance for the day, plug my phone in, put on hand cream and turn out the light. I have a nightstand with two drawers.
Ann,
You’ve got your routine down to a science, for sure. And I love that you check your walking distance for the day. Good for you for staying so active!
Well that was an interesting post Becky! Life is all in the details 🙂
First of all, why have I never heard of a mattress pad heater? I’m going to look that one up, ha.
Interestingly, I don’t have a bedside table or nightstand. The light that I use is a string of pretty colored stars over the headboard area, that I can easily unplug when in bed. I have a fan on a bureau close by that I can flip on during the night if I’m hot. I don’t use a white noise machine because I have to be able to hear my Sarah if she makes a noise. I charge my phone overnight near me on the bed, but place it and my glasses on a hard cover book on my mattress so as not to start a fire, lol. If I need an alarm(rare), I use my phone. I love that you have your alarm clock from all those years ago and it still works. Amazing!
Also, I have my Sarah’s routine every night as well, hers includes a noise machine for her, a bunny, a safety video monitor, and I sing “Let me call you sweetheart” to her right before I put her side rail up and close her door.
PS Steve is pretty handy with that tall light adaptation 🙂
Lesley.
A heated mattress bad definitely NEEDS to be on your list of things to buy–especially before winter.
As for not having a nightstand–at least you never have to worry about it getting cluttered! I must say though, that I’d be in a pretty pickle without one.
If I had someone to sing “Let me call you sweetheart” to me, I might not need melatonin! 🙂
Well that was fun to read! It’s interesting hearing about someone else’s bedtime routine. It’s funny all the random little things that add up to big time comfort. I think we all have a unique formula that takes us to our happy, comfort zone. ?
My bedtime routine involves turning on a fan for white noise and falling asleep reading. I love crawling into bed–its my one moment of pure happiness every day. I made it through another day, now I can lay down and be done for a while. Yay!
I don’t remember that clock but I’m glad I had a part in bringing an important piece of equipment into your life. :).
Love, Deb
Deb,
You really don’t remember buying that clock? You went to Kmart to get it along with some other household necessities.
I can’t believe a fan provides enough white noise for you to make a difference. I have to turn mine up pretty loud in order to do the trick. But to each her own!
Glad you have a happy bedtime routine. 🙂
I have never really timed myself. However, I plug my phone in, make the coffee which will come on at 5:30 a.m., brush my teeth, turn on the alarm clock, turn on my bedside lamp, remove earrings and rings, turn off the bedroom light, turn on the ceiling fan and the diffuser and then read for a short amount of time. I’m guessing this is about 10 minutes worth.
I have a nightstand because it has drawers. I found it on a garage sale and painted it. It looks fantastic and I only had to spend about $25 on it instead of much more for a brand new one. It has a lamp, alarm clock, tissues and my Jesus Calling book on it and plenty of drawer space to keep everything else out of sight. (Magazines, heating pad, etc.)
LeeAnne,
Don’t you love those auto timed coffee makers? Steve sets his every night and enjoys getting up to the smell and sound of it brewing. A book and a diffuser sound like a great combination of restfulness.
What a great deal on your nightstand! I’m sure that every time you use it you get a little ping of satisfaction because 1) you saved money it and 2) you made it your own by painting it just how you wanted it. Good for you!
I too have a remote on my ceiling fan/light. I love that I can turn in the light from the warmth of my bed.
Now that I’m retired I don’t always set an alarm but when I do, I have an app on my iPad that I use. You can save multiple alarms, one that will go off every week day, one for Saturday if I need to get up for something and then one for Sunday. So one of the last things I do is plug my iPad in, open that app and set it so I can see it.
Usually I brush and floss my teeth right before bed unless i’ve done it earlier. Then I put my mouth guard in.
I guess I have a nightstand as it has a drawer. It usually has the tv remote, cable box remote, fan remote, a coaster where I set my cup of water and a box of tissues.
Phyllis,
Yes, those remotes are wonderful inventions, aren’t they?
Those apps are another wonderful invention, especially the alarm clock feature. Things have sure changed over the last 30-40 years in the area of alarm clocks, haven’t they? I’m not complaining.
And drawers are wonderful for hiding all the clutter; I guess I should use mine a little more.
I make sure the dog has been out one more time (prevents her waking me at 3 am to tell me), I check the garage doors are down and all house doors are locked and I plug my phone in to charge.
Shannon,
Yes, that last dog check-in of the night is VERY important. Been there, done that.:-)
Garage door, locked doors, charging phone–definitely nightly necessities!