Snooze it or Lose it

It’s that time of year again where birds (and risk-taking seniors) head South, winter clothes head to the closet and people head to bed at 7 o’clock mistaking the time for 11:00 o’clock…

A few weeks ago most provinces participated in Day Light Saving Time. This occurs every single year. Yet every single year we are astonished by the fact that it is dark by 5:15pm. Look how dark it is already!

What I find the most difficult about this time of year is the morning. There is no sunlight, birds or any scheduled events to get me out of bed, so I rely on my alarm clock. 

The only problem is, lately I’ve been struggling to set my alarm due to the recent Apple software update. I understand that updates are necessary, but my sanity is also necessary. 

I either don’t set it at the correct time, it’s too loud, too quiet, on vibrate or non-existent. Not only that, but with the touch of a button I can snooze the alarm from my watch. Mr. Jobs encouraged us to be antisocial and late. 

When set properly, have you noticed that alarm clocks trigger people to get up and beds to become more comfortable?

As soon as that alarm sounds, the bed hugs your body, the sheets lightly kiss your skin and the pillow nestles your neck (ahem, clearly I’m single). 

It’s like in the movie Toy Story when Woody transforms back to a toy as soon as someone enters the room. Our beds transform into ooey gooey goodness as soon as we want to exit the room.  

Nonetheless, no matter how many times I hit snooze, residents keep me on my toes…

In Life is But a Dream, I grabbed my chest during a startling moment. Today, I covered my eyes during an embarrassing moment. 

Just over a month ago I began facilitating a Peer Support group for residents who have a mental health diagnosis to provide support and receive support during the pandemic. Some days are impactful and some days we get on a tangent about wine. 

One particular session we discussed how to negatively and positively express anger. (The feeling I experience when my alarm wakes me up and when it doesn’t). 

The scenario I provided was that they were waiting for transportation on a cold winter’s day when a vehicle drove past and splashed them with slush. (Not the Coca Cola kind we all crave from 7/11).

A resident suggested that a negative response to this would be to give the driver the middle finger. She quickly added that this was not possible for the members of the group due to limited fine motor skills. 

One resident disagreed and proudly demonstrated for the group. Not with one hand, but both. Laughter erupted in the room as she posed like Eminem. 

After that, any time the resident entered common areas and saw her fellow peers from the group, she would give them the finger. 

Some residents and staff found this amusing, while others found it secretly amusing. 

The group found themselves explaining to staff, peers and table mates that it was all in fun and that it was taught in peer support by me!

I’m not too sure how that worked, but after a statement like that, I wish people came with a snooze button.