Skip to Content
Opinion

The 7 Dull, Wearying, Pointless Stages of Insomnia

Or, what I did instead of sleeping last night.

9:28 AM CDT on July 25, 2022

Alexandra Gorman via Unsplash

The internet is magic. I thought I wasted a whole night of potentially sweet, sweet sleep last night by tossing and turning and "thinking." In fact, I was Being Creative. Just how creative is for you to say. (Not to my face though, I'm in a mood.) Anyway, with apologies to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, here is my feedback from an unplanned Sunday night sleep study.

1. If I make a mental list of everything I need to do tomorrow, my brain will run out of reasons to keep me awake. Repeat for “this week.” Repeat for “forever.”

2. What time is it? Repeat as needed. (Well, not “needed,” but you know what I mean.)

3. What if Hell was just eternal insomnia, or something minor like a migraine you can never get relief from? It really wouldn’t take much for something to amount to torture, would it? It’s just pain + eternity – hope. Everything else is just Catholics being weird.

4. Imagining multiple forms of torture (usually involving small spaces) and realizing how poorly I could withstand them. What’s wrong with me? Why am I so weak?

5. Pee. (Repeat sporadically, depending on age. Reflect on age if appropriate)

6. Begin the “the worst decision I ever made was...” and/or everything would have been different if only I had…” cycle. Repeat with multiple regrets.

7. I wonder if this could be content.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

Anti-ICE Networks Pivot to Protecting Voters

Plus Modern Times returns, RIP Chaz Millionaire, and depression is the real serial killer in today's Flyover news roundup.

Brunch Buds: We Went to Dumpling Eatery to (What Else?) Eat Dumplings

If you've been craving great soup dumplings and/or a bathroom with a Robot Trashcan, have we got the place for you.

MN State Fair, Racket Turns 5, Karmel Mall Cash Mob: This Week’s Best Events

Plus Ren Fest, Mizna at Baba's, and a Turf tribute to Shania Twain.

August 24, 2026

Guess What Percentage of Minneapolis Households Are Carless. Wrong! Guess Again.

Plus two restaurants bid adieu, a big b-ball shakeup, and an influencer finagles a way to the MN State Fair in today's Flyover news roundup.

August 21, 2026

Pungent Eats, Pride, and the Peculiar Pragmatic Promenade: A Visit to the Minnesota Garlic Festival

Garlic ice cream, garlic kettle corn, garlic smoothies... this fest in Hutchinson has everything.

August 21, 2026

Let’s Talk WFH in This Week’s Open Thread

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

August 21, 2026