Sleeping while sitting up is not multitasking

This week, I scored a few extra hours to write during normal business hours. The Mothers' Morning Out program had some openings, which meant my youngest could go three mornings, instead of one. Nine hours, instead of three.

Nine hours? Nine hours! This is great, I told myself. I will get so much done. So, on day one, I dropped off the kids, returned to my desk and proceeded to doze off.

In the chair.

Sitting up.

It was 9:30 in the morning, people.

I'm telling you this because the post last week about how I (sometimes, not always) get up before dawn to write sparked such an interesting conversation about morning routines and our individual rhythms and preferences. I believe we need to honor our bodies and find what works for us. I do not believe in pushing ourselves to the point of becoming exhausted or sick. When we run on empty, everything and everyone suffers.

Between the move, daily life and many, many nights of less than 6 hours of sleep, my body told me it was tired. Plain and simple. To function like a normal human, and to be good to myself and those I care about, I need these things:

Quiet time.

Water.

Exercise.

Sleep.

This is the short list. Care to add to it? How do you make time to take care of yourself in the midst of your busy life? Do you notice how your body responds when you don't?