Mini Mind Splat #3: Sleep

MINI MIND SPLAT WARNING: Nothing I comment on is meant to offend. It's simply my opinion and how I feel about certain things (mostly inconsequential things). I'd love to see thoughts from others in the comments. Just remember, have fun with it. This isn't meant to be super serious.

Sleep. Lovely, beautiful, torturous sleep.

I have so many things I can comment on about sleep, that I'm not even sure where to start. That I'm a night owl and love sleeping in even when the sun's rays are filtering into the room? Or how many of us take this glorious activity for granted? Possibly how when I was younger I could get away with far less sleep than I do now? So many possibilities!

Focus. I need to focus. I can always have a Mini Mind Splat: Sleep, Part 2, right?

I'll talk a little about college days first. All-nighters! Who's pulled some of these to get projects done? Or even to play video games? Yes, yes, sleep is super important, and we shouldn't be depriving our bodies of it, but admit it, you've done it at least once in your life (and if you haven't, that means you are awesome at time management, plus have stellar self-control -- I envy that).

When I was young, this wasn't too hard. I mean, as long as I didn't do it several nights in a row. And I wouldn't want to because I love sleep. It's seriously one of my favorite things, ever since I was young and conjured stories in my head to get myself to drift off. But that's a tangent...

Back to the all-nighters. Wasn't it great when you had the reserves to manage this (or great now if you're still young)?

Nowadays, the thought of an all-nighter brings me to tears. Heck, I stayed up until Midnight last night working on cover art for my short story collection, and I'm seriously regretting staying awake that long. An all-nighter would have me passed out on my keyboard the next day if I had to do it nowadays. I could blame the kids wearing me out, or that I'm not getting enough "quality" sleep on a nightly basis (cats clawing at closed doors don't help with this one), or even the lack of motivation to even try it, but in all honesty, I think it's just because I'm getting too old. And I need more sleep.

I'd blather on, but I think I'm going to take a nap instead. ;)

How much do you or did you used to abuse all-nighters? Never, minimally, way too often? How'd you feel afterward, and what were your reasons for avoiding the necessity of sleep?