My Secret Weapon: Get a Good Night's Sleep

My secret weapon. My pillar of strength. The key to it all. It’s something you have at home (kind of). You undervalue it. It’s thrown out, and those of us in the know are screaming for you to stop doing that. I sound like one of those people talking about the weeds in your garden that are some sort of panacea, but I’m just talking about sleep. If I can get a good night's sleep, I can handle just about anything. If I don’t, I’m pretty useless. Some of the best days are the ones where my eyes pop open without an alarm. Some of you may be triggered even thinking about this because you’re in a place in your life, when getting a good night’s sleep feels impossible. I get that, but it doesn’t have to be forever, and you can start working towards it now. Here are some things to look at.

Are you a woman over 40 and having trouble sleeping? Talk to a perimenopause/menopause specialist. If you’re in my area, I know one. Just let me know. This was surprisingly helpful.

Do you have a routine for bedtime? Any type of routine will start to teach your body that it’s time to wind down. Start doing some of the same things every night. Pack your work bag. Make your lunch. Warn the kids that they have fifteen minutes before they need to be in bed. Take your vitamins. Let the dog out one more time. Whatever is going to help you feel calm and ready to relax, put that into your routine. Your body will start to recognize the pattern.

Do you set an alarm to wake up? How about setting one to go to bed? I do this during the school year. My husband and I will sometimes get caught up in a show, and lose track. It helps to have a reminder. Also, if you’re waking up to an alarm every morning, and you are still tired. Maybe you need to adjust your bedtime. 

Do you feel tired no matter what you do? Please start the conversation with your doctor. You deserve better. I found out that I have a sleep disorder about twenty years ago. No one ever told me that I could do something about it until about three years ago. Maybe you have a vitamin issue, or thyroid, or something else. Keep pushing for answers.

Are you grieving, or going through a big change? These are exhausting things to process, and it takes more sleep. You also deserve to have support through difficult times. If you don’t have a tribe, reach out to a mental health professional. It is important.

There are a lot of other things that can cause changes in your sleep, and the amount of sleep you need. Listen to your body. Try some different things, and reach out for help. Getting more/better sleep may not solve all of your problems, but it just might give you enough stamina to get through them more easily.

Love and Light,

Maria