The 'Sleep Light, Party Right' Plan
The 'Sleep Light, Party Right' Plan
Birth of Clarity #44
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I cried last week. Yes, I admit it, I had a little weep.
And yes, I’ll admit it wasn’t for anything poignant or profound. It was during Toy Story 3 when Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the gang held hands as they headed towards the fire!
OK, the scene might be sad but not enough for a grown man to cry over. So I can only put it down to one thing; A lack of sleep.
My sleep pattern had been thrown off beforehand due to some changes at home but the floodgates opening was unexpected.
Has this ever happened to you?
It goes to show the power of being properly well-rested.
On that note, I’ll share a little story with you.
Party training!
When I was 21, I went to America to work at a summer camp. It was a great experience.
But I did A LOT of drinking.
I desperately wanted to party whilst I was out there as it was my first time visiting the States so I decided to train my body to function on very little sleep.
I came up with the ‘Sleep Light, Party Right’ plan to do during the camp, so by the time I was ready to travel afterwards I’d be prepared to party properly!
The plan consisted of:
Step 1: Stay up as late as possible
Step 2: Drink as much alcohol as possible (without getting caught)
Step 3: Get up as early as possible
It wasn’t rocket science!
Did I forget to mention the camp was for children with severe ADD and ADHD…?! Well, it was!
In hindsight, it was a terrible idea.
Despite the lack of sleep and secret drinking sessions, I was a good camp counsellor. (Probably not an amazing role model as I always stunk of last night’s beer session in the woods.) But at the time; drinking and partying were my TOP priorities, so after powering on with my ‘little-to-no-sleep’ regime, earning a little money from tips and getting sleep down to 3-4 hours, I travelled the States as soon as camp finished.
And I had a blast! My ‘sleep training’ paid off because I partied hard.
However, when I returned home to the UK - fully expecting to catch up on some proper sleep - my mum passed away.
The built-up sleep deficit and devastating loss meant that I slept very little and I cried a lot.
For years afterwards - as my drinking got worse and I failed to deal with the loss - I struggled to get that sleep back. I felt tired all the time and I was always close to tears, especially the day after a big drinking session.
When I look back on this period, I wish I had been sleeping and resting properly.
It really affected me.
Maybe I would have been able to cope with my mother’s death healthily if I’d been better rested…
Importance of proper sleep
Getting enough sleep and rest is one of the most important things you can do for your mental health. It’s not just about feeling rested - it’s about giving your mind and body the chance to recover and reset. When well-rested, you’re better equipped to handle life’s emotional ups and downs.
I learned this the hard way.
As I mentioned earlier, I pushed my body to the limit for years with alcohol, drugs, late nights and a total lack of proper rest and recovery. It wasn’t just the physical toll that got to me - it was the emotional chaos. My mood swings were unpredictable, and as I said, I often found myself crying for reasons I couldn’t even understand.
Crying, by itself, isn’t a bad thing. It’s a natural way to release pent-up emotions, and it doesn’t make you any less of a man. In fact, allowing yourself to feel and express emotions is a sign of strength.
But when you find yourself in tears because you’re utterly exhausted rather than because of something truly emotional, it’s a sign that your body and mind are crying out for rest.
Sleep deprivation can amplify negative emotions, making you more likely to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. It can make small problems seem like huge obstacles and leave you feeling drained even before the day begins.
When your body clock is out of sync, everything feels harder than it needs to be. Your emotions become exaggerated, and you might find yourself reacting in ways that don’t align with how you truly feel.
The goal is to get your body and mind back on track so that when you do experience emotions - whether it’s joy, sadness, or anything in between - they’re genuine and not just the result of exhaustion.
Proper sleep allows your brain to process and manage emotions more effectively, giving you the clarity and resilience to deal with whatever life throws your way.
Remember, sometimes you just need to let it all out, and there’s no shame in that. But it’s much healthier to cry because you’re feeling something real - something that touches your heart - rather than because you’re running on empty.
By taking care of your sleep, you’re taking care of yourself, and that’s a powerful step towards lasting mental and emotional well-being.
Thank you for reading: “The 'Sleep Light, Party Right' Plan.”
Here are some helpful articles related to today’s post:
If anything in this article resonated with you and you’d like to ask a question or comment, please get in touch:
Check out the last post: “Self-Medicating Doesn’t Soothe.”
Take care,
Roscoe
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