Sleep as a wellness barometer

If we think of our wellness as a house, we could picture sleep as part of the foundation. It’s hard to focus on some of the more abstract things we want, wellness-wise, if we are too tired to take action toward our other goals. 

And any changes in our sleep can be informative. If you normally fall asleep easily but now find yourself tossing and turning all night, that might be revealing. Is there something on your mind? Or do you just need to turn the air conditioning up so you are more comfortable?

There really isn’t one “right” or best way to manage sleep. We each have our unique needs — some people need a lot of sleep; others seem to do fine with very little. And the ideal environment can vary — a cool, quiet room suits me, like a bear sleeping in a cave — but some people need a little white noise or may prefer a warmer room. 

Like many things in life, our sleep needs and even the availability of it can vary. For parents of young children or owners of a new puppy, you may have to count back the weeks or months to the last time you had an unbroken night of sleep. This team of record-breaking female rowers crossed the Pacific in 34 days and slept only 90 minutes at a time between rowing shifts. Outstanding accomplishment aside, the first thing I thought when I read this was — how on earth did they function on such short bouts of sleep? And if you’ve ever traveled abroad, you know it can take days or weeks to get back in a good sleep routine after adjusting to time changes. 

While it might not be possible to have “perfect” sleep all the time, sometimes it helps to think about our routines to see if we are maximizing them. What does your ideal sleep routine look like? Are you a night owl or an early bird? Does the timing of your workout affect your ability to fall asleep? Does alcohol interfere with the quality? Do you sleep soundly most of the time, except when stressed? Does a 20-minute nap help re-energize you in the afternoon, or does it just make you groggy and throw off your bedtime? 

Our days can become such a blur of activity, it can be easy to overlook sleep and how it is affecting us. But there can be value to stepping back and analyzing your sleep. A sleep study and a CPAP can make a huge difference for some people, but sometimes even just a few tweaks in our routine can make a big difference in energy level and motivation. And who doesn’t want more of those things?

Want extra support? I’m here to walk alongside you and explore what that change might look like, whether it be increasing your energy level and mental clarity, reducing stress, sleeping better and feeling more rested, rediscovering your career passion, or reconnecting with loved ones. Schedule a free 15-minute wellness coaching consultation here.