Why can’t I sleep?
Have you ever:
taken an accidental nap? (what time is it? AT NIGHT??)
gone to bed exhausted, but lay awake for an eternity, thinking about everything and nothing all at once?
gotten 8 hours of sleep but still felt so tired in the morning that you almost (or actually) left the house wearing two different shoes?
decided against a workout because you were just too tired to think about finding a clean sports bra?
raided your sugar stash to make it through an afternoon meeting?
f, all of the above?
You're not alone, and you probably need some help sorting out your sleep. We all wish there was some weird sleep hack or something we could buy to fix our sleep for good, but all the ambien and sleep trackers and CBD powders in the world can't make truly restorative, high-quality sleep a consistent part of your life. The good news is that you probably already have what you need to start sleeping better. Ready to start?
What’s keeping me up at night?
There are three basic categories of sleep disruptors-- I'll call them body noise, brain noise, and bed noise.
Body noise is physiological changes or sensations that impair sleep. This might be things like back pain, lack of physical activity, caffeine, alcohol, or other substances in your system, or unmanaged medical conditions.
Brain noise is the byproduct of emotional and cognitive overstimulation. If you're experiencing heightened stress, anxiety, or are prone to rumination, it can show up at bedtime. Stimulating activities like TV, games, or intense conversations at night can also create brain noise.
Bed noise is things in your environment that interfere with sleep. Noise, light, activity (pets and partners, for example) and temperature can all contribute to sleep problems.
Sorting out these areas might sound basic, and it is. This is a good thing! Basic is doable. Yet so many people who come to me saying, "I'm just so tired all the time", "I'm too exhausted to think," or "why can't I sleep through the night, I've tried everything" are overlooking some of these. Before you give up on the idea of ever being rested again, give yourself an honest once-over. Where is the noise? Approach yourself with kindness and curiosity. It can be challenging to discover things about yourself! But a solving a problem starts with understanding what's wrong. It's a start to a sustainable, long-term healthy sleep habit.
This is going to be hard, isn’t it?
This is the beginning. You don't have to give anything up today-- just be quiet for a moment and find out where the noise is coming from.
Your'e on your way! Sleep better, feel better, and show up for your amazing life. Stay tuned for more exploring-- we'll look at common sources of noise and tips to find tranquility.
You can get more advice for cultivating the energy you need with the Energy Kickstart self-guided mini program.
