Week 41: When Sleep Speaks—Listening to What Rest (or the Lack of It) Is Telling You

It’s been almost a month since my last blog post, and if I’m being honest, sleep—or the lack of it—has had something to do with that. Between life’s nonstop demands and the weight of everything happening in the world, rest hasn’t come as easily as I’d like. Maybe you can relate.

Some nights, I find myself staring at the ceiling, wide awake. I know the importance of sleep. I teach about it. I help my clients prioritize it. And yet, there are stretches of time when no matter how much I try to rest, sleep feels out of reach. I’ve had weeks (okay, months) where I’ve done all the “right” things—cutting screen time, avoiding caffeine, maintaining a routine—only to find myself still chasing sleep.

Maybe you’ve been there, too—exhausted but restless, knowing you need sleep but unable to find it.

A little over a year ago, I wrote a blog post about sleep hygiene—the practical strategies that help support better sleep. Those strategies still matter, but today, I want to go deeper because sleep—or the inability to sleep—isn’t just about bedtime habits. It’s data.

What Your Sleep Is Telling You

If you’re lying awake at 2 AM, mind racing, it’s not always about too much caffeine or a bright screen before bed. Sleep disturbances are often signals, reflections of something deeper. When sleep becomes inconsistent, fragmented, or impossible, it’s worth asking:

• What is my sleep trying to tell me?

• What am I carrying that refuses to be set down, even in the quiet of the night?

• What does my body know that my mind hasn’t fully acknowledged?

Many factors impact sleep—stress, anxiety, major life transitions, or even unspoken grief. But it’s also important to ask: Has this always been my pattern, or is this new?

Sometimes, sleep struggles come with life circumstances—new parenthood, caregiving, work deadlines, or the sheer weight of responsibility. Other times, they are linked to medical shifts like menopause, chronic pain, or medication side effects. If your sleep has changed dramatically or feels beyond your control, it’s worth tuning into whether something physical might be at play.

The World Is Not Resting, and Neither Are We

We don’t sleep in a vacuum. Our nervous systems are wired to detect threats, and we’re living in a time where uncertainty is constant. Whether it’s personal stressors, economic instability, violence in the news, or the divisive political climate, our bodies register the weight of it all.

• Anticipatory anxiety: The fear of what’s coming next—politically, socially, personally—keeps many of us in a hypervigilant state, making deep rest difficult.

• Doomscrolling before bed: We crave certainty, and in uncertain times, we look for answers. But consuming distressing news at night doesn’t just inform us—it activates us.

• A sense of powerlessness: When we feel like we have no control, our stress responses stay heightened. The brain perceives this as a time for action, not rest.

The result? Restless nights. Early morning wake-ups. Dreams that feel more like mental marathons than restoration.

Coping with Sleep Struggles Beyond the Basics

I could tell you (again) to maintain a sleep schedule, dim the lights, and put your phone away. And you should—those strategies help. But if your sleep struggles persist, let’s go deeper.

1. Get Curious About What’s Keeping You Up

Instead of fighting sleeplessness with frustration, approach it with curiosity. What’s on your mind? Try journaling—not as a solution, but as a way to give your thoughts a place to go.

2. Recognize Your Body’s Need for Safety

If your mind feels unsafe—whether from personal worries or global unrest—your body will struggle to let go. Ground yourself before bed. Use a weighted blanket, take a warm shower, or try a short breathwork exercise to signal to your body that it’s okay to rest.

3. Be Mindful of What You Absorb Before Bed

What you take in before sleep shapes your nervous system. If you’re ending your day with political chaos, global tragedies, or social media debates, your brain carries that into the night. Consider setting a digital boundary—your bed is not a place for bad news.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Rest, Even If Sleep Doesn’t Come

Not every night will be perfect. On nights when sleep won’t come, release the pressure. Instead of fighting it, try a guided meditation, a body scan, or simply lying in the dark and breathing. Rest is still valuable, even if it’s not the sleep you hoped for.

5. Reframe Sleeplessness as Insight, Not Failure

Your inability to sleep is not a personal flaw. It’s a reflection of what you’re carrying. Some seasons of life—grief, transition, uncertainty—bring disrupted sleep. Instead of frustration, practice self-compassion. What do you need right now?

Finally…

If you’re struggling with sleep right now, you’re not alone. Sleep (or the lack of it) is never just about bedtime habits—it’s a window into our emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. If your nights are restless, take it as an invitation. Your mind and body are trying to tell you something. Listen.

And if all else fails? There’s always coffee. But let’s hope for rest instead.