MARCH 12 ― This rather hilarious incident happened last week.

I staggered into the kitchen to make the morning coffee and opened the “fridge” to take the milk.

Somewhere in between, irritation washed over me when I couldn’t locate it.

“Why? Why isn’t the milk where it’s supposed to be?”

At least two seconds passed before I realised it was the microwave oven that I was staring at.

Chuckling to myself, I opened the real refrigerator and located the milk and duly posted later of my momentary stupidity on Facebook.

If I were to start dissecting the events that led up to it, this would include shuttling from one place to another and racing against time to complete stories that were due.

It certainly doesn’t help having a somewhat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tendency that everything has to be right (I don’t believe in perfect). 

Sleep that morning didn’t come easily.

The truth is, that momentary lapse is nothing new to those living in the fast-paced world of modern living.

You whizz from one place to another, be it physically or trying to connect the dots mentally when carrying out multiple tasks. Not withstanding the appointments to meet and deadlines weighing down on your shoulders like blocks of cement.

And when the day is done, all you are surrounded with is more thoughts of what lies to be done tomorrow.

Maybe you are just trying to get by or wanting to be the best. All the time.

It is a feeling of dread to some and while some can take it in their stride, for others it seeps into the psyche and affects that commodity that has been taken for granted.

Sleep. It is a basic that everyone needs.

A survey carried out a decade ago by A.C. Nielsen found that Malaysia was eighth among late-sleeping nations, with 54 per cent falling asleep at midnight. No thanks to factors like stress, long working hours and late-night TV.

One highlight pointed out last year during the second Sleep Conference was that about 10 per cent of Malaysians have obstructive sleep apnea.

This is when, according to WebMD, there are repeated episodes of complete or partial blockage of the upper airway during sleep.

Such episodes can interfere with sound sleep besides reducing oxygen flow to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms.

At the time of the conference, Sleep Disorder Society Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Muhsin Ahmad Zahari voiced his worry that addiction could take place when some of us choose sleeping pills as the “primary solution” to sleep, adding that Malaysians still take sleep for granted.

Not getting enough sleep also extends to other realms of one’s health: higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, and memory deficit.

There are also studies that indicate insomniacs suffer more from symptoms of anxiety and depression than those who can sleep.

The increasing number of voices sternly saying that one should get enough sleep has also spawned numerous studies.

Guides available online advise you to “sleep this way, sleep the other way. And you will sleep better.”

Besides the “stay away from the telly” advice, another one has been added to the list.

Keep your smart devices at bay.

Arianna Huffington totally believes in this and advises to pick a time of the day when you switch off all devices and “gently escort them out of your bedroom.”

“It’s terribly important,” she said.

“Because otherwise, if you have it charging by your bed, and you wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, you’re going to be tempted. You allow your daytime with its challenges and problems that we all have to deal with to intrude into your recharging night time.”

Then again, you do have YouTube to thank for with its numerous videos from various sources recommending  a few minutes of yoga to aid you to dreamland.

Besides this, there are also pillows, mattresses and supplements that beckon you to buy them.

There is even a World Sleep Day that is tomorrow (the Friday of the second full week of March).

Organised by the World Association of Sleep Medicine, it is an annual celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep. It is truly amazing the lengths that some people go through just to make sure they can get a fitful rest.

And even more amazing the entire industry that exists to help them get there. The art of sleep has become complicated as with many other things in life.

So many choices, so little time.

And yes, spending hours that eat into your sleeping time just to read about how you can get enough quality sleep.

I won’t be the first or the last to admit that sleep has become elusive. With or without your eyes wide shut.

It is at the end of the day a battle with the brain that becomes stubborn and refuses to rest.

Perhaps the problem isn’t in that pillow or chomping a late supper.

But in allowing yourself the downtime that you need and letting go of the hectic day and night.

And starting anew in the morning.

Easier said than done. But I sure will try that tonight.

*Audrey is news editor at Malay Mail. She can be reached at audrey@mmail.com.my.

** This is the view of the individual or organisation and is not necessarily the opinion of Malay Mail Online.