The Time Bandit

“Not yet,” an old friend whispered. “Touch me again. You know you want to.”

“Just ten more minutes,” I told myself.

I reached over and, with a gentle touch, I was asleep. 

My short bout of victory would last a few moments. 

The noise came back. And so did my friend, wanting only to be touched.

I was trapped in this routine for years. Despite feeling drained and less creative each day, I was convinced it was the only way to live.

Eventually, I found a way to escape…

Chronic sleeplessness for as long as I remember forged a strange relationship with the SNOOZE button.

As soon as the alarm went off, my “Snooze Reflex” went to work. I would repeat the same message: "Oh, just 10 more minutes and I will feel better." It’s irresistible when you are unconscious. It’s only a tap (or flick or swipe). At one point I learned to turn off my alarm by touching Snooze with my foot.

I hoped the magic tap would help me start the day well. Yet I would wake up from snoozing disoriented and exhausted. I cursed myself for not getting up on time, and I struggled to fall back asleep when the next alarm sounded. 

I would find excuses to blame SNOOZE. It has been a conspiracy plaguing humankind since the industrial age. I see this sinister plot. Was it a coincidence that SNOOZE was the largest button on early clock radios? And why are there so many snooze options on modern devices? It felt like a deliberate attempt to keep us in bed!

5, 10 or 15 minutes lying in bed doesn't sound like a sacrifice. Yet it's incredible how much writing I can produce within a short window in the mornings. I gave my power away to this Time Bandit, not realizing it ate away at my calm and crippled my creativity.  

When something impacts our well-being, it's time to reassess. Journaling, reflection and experimentation with routines in the past 3 years helped me answer the big question: 

How do I balance the need for SLEEP with having enough time to WRITE?

Each trial had a varied range of success. Below is a list of what I tried over the years to alleviate my reliance on SNOOZE:

⏰ Set the alarm at least 10 minutes earlier.

If I decided to tap in the morning, I would still wake up at my designated writing time.

Success rate - 0%. 

I hit the SNOOZE button more often, blowing away the early wake time and eating into the mornings. Epic FAIL.

😋🛌 Eat and go to bed earlier.

We (the family) adjusted our evening routine to cook and eat before 7 pm. I aimed to follow a 9-5 schedule (in bed by 9 pm and awake by 5 am).

Success rate - 75%. Our schedules change weekly. When we are successful, I gain more time in the evening for family or writing. Occasionally we won’t eat until 8 pm or later during the week. Broken routines attract snoozes. 

🌃🥱Prep as much as possible for the next day, the night before.

I would set up my writing tools and station, and pick out clothes in advance.  Many chores I did in the mornings were moved to evenings. 

Success Rate - 80%. I found more time to write or do other morning tasks… when I prepped!

👋🏾 Let go of Snoozin’ all together. 

I decided to take my sleeping fate into my own hands. In mid-March 2024, I did the unthinkable: I turned off my snooze alarm for good. As soon as my alarm went off it was time to wake up. 

It’s been 10 months since and… 

Success rate - 90%, then 40%, back to 80%, and growing. 

This method began without a hitch. For the first few weeks, I jumped out of bed. It seemed easy at first. And it was…

There were days I could not get out of bed.  “Just 10 more minutes,” I thought. Or my cat Mimi, after failed attempts of slapping me awake, would snuggle when the alarm went off. Well, I had to stay and cuddle… for Mimi, right?  I tried to create an imaginary snooze alarm in my brain. It never worked. I fell asleep after the main alarm, missed my imaginary snooze alarm, and woke up 20 minutes to 2 hours later. With the darker mornings, it was easier to stay in bed. My snooze reflex was dying for some action.  

I nearly gave in to the time thief. Instead, I combined the no-snooze method with my 9-5 routine and prepping the night before. I found the winning combination of routines. This year I wake up with the alarm and rarely fall back asleep. Not missing you, Snooze!

🙏🏾 Have an attitude of gratitude.  Make peace with the Snooze button.

I can be angry with this inanimate object all I want. I know I was upset with myself. I’ve grown from this experience. I wanted to be content wherever I ended up. I don’t plan to rely on the snooze button again, and I don’t want to allow my past anger to sabotage my progress. Despite its conspiratory nature and creepiness, I wouldn’t be where I am now without my snoozing experience.

Success rate - To be determined.

We all need good rest to be able to create. Whatever choice is made (snooze or no snooze), be at peace with it and don't dwell on what could have or should have been.  If you have the urge to create and the alarm goes off, this is the best time to make it happen. Don't wait to make the dream a reality, no matter how often the snooze button pleads with you to play with it. And if you want to sleep in, sleep guilt-free! 

Long ago, I gave my power away to SNOOZE. Every few minutes I would tap for silence. Every few minutes the noise came back.  And every few minutes I assumed my “friend” was helping me.

I worked hard to reclaim my time and learned to live without a snooze alarm. This year, I have had fewer days in bed after the alarm went off, and my snooze reflex is gone. The writing part of me is grateful.

“Not yet,” says SNOOZE.

“Go away, creep,” says ME.

“You’ll be back. You always come back.”

“Not this time,” says ME. “I’m over you. I moved on from tapping you to tapping my keyboard. You will never take this from me again.”

Deep breaths. Now I can write for 10 more minutes…

Take charge of your rest for extraordinary success, fellow creatives.

Nadine