My sleep is terrible at the moment. Now I’ve had interrupted sleep since having kids but ever since I had covid last year I’ve actually had sleep problems. I can usually fall asleep but from about 2 or 3 in the morning I’m awake and having thoughts.
Have you ever had this?
NOTE: I’m taking a sleep course in December where I will learn about types of sleep disturbances and underlying causes plus an intervention to help. Can. not. wait.
Is it insomnia?
I’m not worried at night. I don’t agonise over things, although I have done in the past.
I’m not even fretting that I should be sleeping. Now that is something I used to do whenever I had an early morning flight: worrying so much that I might oversleep that I don’t actually sleep at all, then start worrying about not falling asleep…. I will pay extra money and travel a day extra just to avoid an early morning flight.
What keeps you awake at night?
I’m not sure what’s keeping me awake, but my best guess is that covid messed with something, or activated something deeper that’s leading to my sleep problems. Maybe I’ll find out in that course I’m taking in December.
But for now I’m tired. But I’m not worrying. I’m not getting cranky like I usually would. I’m not blaming myself. I’m not playing the “if only” game.
And I’m surprised at myself.
Because I can get cranky and snappy when I’m tired, like a little snapping turtle, who needs to be tucked up into a cosy blanket and sleep like a cat.
I’ve looked at my nutrition and made adjustments.
I’ve looked at my movement and added certain activities that help me sleep a little longer and deeper.
I’ve had an analysis of my overall health systems to look at what’s structurally going on and have a plan to bring myself back into balance health wise. And I’m figuring out how to implement it into my life so it’s do-able.
(just an aside, I don’t like all the elements of the plan. Avoiding cheese is in my future, and ever since giving up gluten I’ve been grateful that I could still eat cheese. I love cheese. So yeah, that’s a part of the plan I don’t like. oh well.)
I’ve limited my workload so I’m only taking on two new clients in the next 3 months so I can work within my capacity and still serve my clients well.
Some improvements but no cure yet.
But I haven’t lost my mind, and I’m still surprised by it.
And I attribute my sanity through this lack of sleep to two things:
- Not judging the crap out of the situation, myself, and all those around me. How? because I’ve learned to neutralise my inner critics and developed the mental fitness to snap out of it and be constructive and compassionate instead. I know! surprising isn’t it?
- My coach, Helen House. She is fiercely holding the focus of my health and well being (one of my goals for our work). She has an astounding knack for seeing the best in me while also showing me where I’m messing up and getting in my own way, all while not judging me for any of it. AND what’s even more amazing, she doesn’t trigger me to judge myself either. That’s the kind of truth teller we all need.
These two things are allowing me to find peace and enjoyment in life, while I wrestle with this problem. It’s taking awhile, and I’m not known for my patience, but somehow it’s ok. We’ll figure it out.
So how’s your sleep?
This post is part of my special Coaching Tips Series. This series was inspired by my clients and the core themes in their challenges. When we can apply these tips, we bring a lot of ease into our lives and step into our leadership. Want to talk it through with me? Call me and let’s make a Game Plan together.