I admit it – there are monstrous bags under my eyes. Sometimes they get so black that in dim lighting, I get asked whether I’ve got a black eye or something.

It’s pretty bad.

I’ve known for some time that my poor sleep habits are probably the biggest contributor to this particular malady, but I never really looked into it.

I had a scare today. When I got home from work, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked completely horrible. My skin is practically blue under my eyes. Concealer won’t do much, as there’s also that funny gash there (see the picture) that gets deeper (or more pronounced) the worse I feel. I can’t be going in to work like this anymore. I don’t like it when people ask if I’m tired, or if everything’s okay because I “don’t look well”.

Time to do something about this.

It looks like something I already knew – lack of sleep – is probably a major factor in my bags and circles. Something else I actually hadn’t thought of was salty foods = water retention. I know I need to drink more – I’ll just have to deal with the frequent trips to the ladies room.

And, of course, one site asked if I was getting enough exercise. No, no I’m not. Why? Because I’m too tired? No. Too lazy? Sort of. Too preoccupied with LOST? Nice try, Nicki – a valid reason, but I don’t think that can be my excuse. I think it all comes down to willpower. I need to make myself do it, even if that means I do it in the morning with my kids whining about how they never get to use the Wii and I do.

And heck, if I went to bed early – even a half hour earlier than I am right now, I could get up a half hour earlier and get it done before the adorable little urchins wake.

Since the rest of the article I’m reading starts talking about retinol injections and eye-lift surgery, and at 32 I feel I may be a little young for the latter, and I flat-out refuse to do the former (needles…ugh), I’m going to have to work on my first three options – water, exercise and sleep – before I start turning to doctors with sharp instruments.