Do you suffer from insomnia or sleep anxiety?
Do you ever feel an intense pressure as bedtime approaches, finding yourself so tired yet strangely alert? Your mind races, and just as you start to drift off, your brain wakes up, pulling you back to being fully awake again. This often spirals into anxiety, where the urgency to sleep only heightens stress, causing your heart to race and tension to spread through your body. Dramatic as it sounds, this is my reality.
Despite being a sleep consultant, where you might assume I can sleep anywhere, quite used to bed hopping but actually it's quite the opposite. I've struggled with sleep anxiety since childhood, but I've learned to manage it through consistent healthy habits and a bedtime routine. However, I still experience periods of sleep anxiety, particularly when I'm overly tired from working away from home, when stressed, or getting back to sleep after night feeds, especially from 3am onwards.
Sleep anxiety is also common among new parents, who face hormonal shifts, the anticipation of your new baby waking, and the challenge of getting back to sleep after night feeds.
Do you find it hard to settle and sleep at night?
Parenthood brings intense feelings of unconditional love but can also bring on feelings of fear and anxiety over this new responsibility. Trusting your instincts can be tough when fatigue and anxiety are mixed in. This is why a structured routine and self-care are crucial. A predictable routine for you and your baby offers long rest periods and predictability, stability overnight, helping you feel more relaxed and secure about the sleep ahead.
My Top 5 Sleep Tips:
1. Establish a consistent bedtime routine for you and your baby.
2. Stick to a personal bedtime routine: get to bed early, take a bath, drink camomile tea, read, and turn off screens an hour before bed.
3. Keep your bedroom cool.
4. Write down worries if they arise, but aim to focus your thoughts calm and peaceful. Fake it to make if you have to!
5. Practice mindfulness breathing techniques.
I believe as a Baby Sleep Consultant and best selling author of The 7pm to 7am Sleeping Baby Routine, following the "7pm to 7am sleeping baby routine" will help you establish a sleep promoting routine for both you and your baby. If you need assistance setting up a routine or improving your sleep habits, I’m here to help. 😴
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