Skip to Content
Opinion

The 7 Dull, Wearying, Pointless Stages of Insomnia

Or, what I did instead of sleeping last night.

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 from Racket

Reformer Analyzes 1K Habeas Petitions, Finds Feds Deported 273 Legal MN Workers

Plus welcoming Big Brother, plunging into darkness for fun, and reasons to visit Mpls in today's Flyover news roundup.

MN Street Style: Art-A-Whirl 2026

'I just texted my friends that it’s going to be a coochie out weekend.'

This Week’s Open Thread Asks: Are You Good at Your Job?

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

Freeloader Friday: 96 Free Things To Do This Weekend

We're going all the way through Monday for this special extended Freeloader.

This Town Was Crawling With Creeps Today

Plus no data centers for now, a happy ending(?) to the Roof Depot saga, and Rondo goes Roblox in today's Flyover news roundup.

On the Big Screen This Week: Righteous Shoplifters and L.A. Rebels

Pretty much all the movies you can catch in the Twin Cities this week.

See all posts