Lullabye

I miss sleeping.  A sleep free of stress, a sleep that recharges, energizes, invigorates.  A sleep that comes after unwinding at home, talking to loved ones, playing with pets.   A sleep that greets the morning with a smile and the beauty of the day yet to unfold.  

OK, I'll be honest - I'm rarely smiling in the morning.  But that sounded better than "cranky".

Lately, my sleep is nothing like this.  It is a sleep borne of exhaustion.  I come home, throw my stuff down wherever I can find a free spot, sit on the couch for about an hour and then trudge upstairs to collapse into bed.  The day's clothes lay at the side of the bed, piled up and cushioning my feet when I finally drag myself out of bed in the morning.  Still exhausted.  Body tired and stiff from waking in the same position as when I passed out the evening before.  Depleted.  Today, even my shower did little to awaken me.  I stepped out of the shower and toweled off (barely).  As I stood there, I spied my husband's towel hanging on the door.  So soft.  Inviting.  I stepped forward and leaned my head on it, sure that I could catch just a few more minutes of precious sleep.  Then I realized that it's unlikely I'd stay standing if I were to fall asleep and that I'd wind up with a busted head.  

But, I digress.

I'm getting about 6 - 7 hours of sleep a night.  Not over training. Yet still I'm simply.....beat.  What is odder yet is that it really only affects me during the bookends of my days.  I'm fairly functioning during the actual day.  Really :)  The gym energizes me.  I can remain focused on work.  I have yet to truly bite anybody's head off.  But why can't my mornings and evenings be smoother? 

How about you?  Do you sleep well?  Do you sleep soundly?  And if not, how do you handle less than optimum sleep patterns?