Remember those days when you could sleep in until noon without a care in the world?
Well, those days are currently on hiatus for me.
With a newborn in the house, my nights are…let’s just say, more lively than before.
But here’s an unexpected twist: It’s not just the sporadic sleep schedules of my baby girl that’s affecting me.
It’s the worry about not getting enough sleep that’s proving to be a silent energy thief.
Don’t Let Sleep Anxiety Make Things Worse for you
Every time the baby stirs or cries, a part of my brain immediately goes into overdrive: “How much sleep have I gotten? Will I be able to function tomorrow? What if I’m too tired in the morning?”
This spiraling anxiety makes it even harder to drift back to sleep when I finally get the chance.
When you focus too much on the goal (in this case, the “perfect” sleep), you make things harder than it has to be.
The irony?
The worry about sleep deprives you of rest even more!
Understanding Your Own Sleep Anxiety Triggers
While my sleepless nights might be orchestrated by the sweet symphony of a newborn, yours could be shaped by a myriad of other factors.
Work Stress:
Have an important meeting or a deadline looming?
Your brain might be in overdrive, rehearsing conversations, going over tasks, and building imaginary scenarios.
Digital Overload:
Scrolling through social media, binge-watching your favorite shows, or reading the latest news right before bed can be a cocktail for an overstimulated brain.
Life Changes:
Moving houses, a new job, relationship changes, or even planning a big trip can create a whirlpool of thoughts and emotions.
Health Concerns:
Worries about one’s health or that of a loved one can be especially consuming.
It’s natural to seek answers, replaying symptoms or doctor’s conversations.
Existential Thoughts:
Sometimes, it’s the big questions: Why am I here? What’s my purpose?
These profound thoughts can be especially loud in the quiet of the night.
Recognizing your triggers is the first step.
Remember, it’s not about dismissing or belittling them.
It’s about understanding, addressing, and finding ways to ease that restless mind.
By identifying the root, you can begin tailoring your nighttime rituals and mindset shifts to address them head-on.
Here’s my Game Plan to Deal with Sleep Anxiety
If you ever find yourself worrying about your sleep, here are some things to try.
Acceptance:
Understand that there are phases in life where perfect sleep isn’t possible. And that’s okay. Understand that it’s only temporary, and work towards a solution in time.
These days, I’m NOT going to hit that elusive 8 hours.
And for now… I need to accept that.
Mindfulness:
When I lay down, I try to focus on the rhythm of my breathing, the softness of the sheets, the cool air in the room.
Engaging my senses helps my mind stop racing with random thoughts. And anytime I catch myself worrying, I always bring it back to my breath.
Sometimes I’ll even count down with each breath from 1000. And usually by the time I’m in the 800s I’ll have fallen asleep.
Gratitude:
Instead of worrying about the sleep I’m losing, I think about the purpose behind it.
Right now that’s taking care of our newborn.
It’s challenging to be grateful in the moment (especially at 3am! 🕒) But keeping a higher purpose in mind helps put things in perspective.
What keeps you up at night? Do you worry about getting enough sleep? What are you trying to do about it?
Feel free to share and let me know!