Power down and actually get a good night’s sleep
- Dawn Hollister
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
Do you ever reach the end of a long day feeling exhausted but also somehow jittery and restless at the same time?
One minute you feel like you could fall asleep doing the dishes, but as soon as you lie in bed, your brain refuses to stop reliving the whole day. And at the same time ... you're already somehow worrying about tomorrow.
That's commonly referred to as tired and wired, and it’s definitely NOT ideal when all you want is to power down and actually get a good night’s sleep.
Here’s why it happens (especially to a lot of really busy people):
When you spend all day in and out of a neverending stress cycle -- between work deadlines, multitasking (especially when it involved tech devices), and family/household demands pulling you in all directions -- your nervous system doesn’t just miraculously know how to go back into calm mode.
Instead, it can get stuck in high alert, making it hard for your body to shift into deep, restorative sleep.
And when you eventually DO fall asleep (hopefully), tossing and turning or even waking up a few hours later, wide awak and feeling wired all over again.
Here are 3 things you can do starting TONIGHT to help reset:
Physically alter your actual environment: Do something that feels different from the rest of your day: Take a shower or bath to literally wash away the stress. Dim the lights, light a candle, or step outside for a few quiet minutes in teh dark. Set up a basic ritual to tell your brain it's time to relax, squeeze in one more text message.
Break up your normal pattern with calming activities: Do a low energy chore like folding laundry woth some quiet music. Do some yoga or relaxing stretches. Read a low-energy-investment book but here's the catch: it should NOT be on a screen!
Breathe to reset your nervous system:Try 4-7-8 breathing: inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8.This slows your heart rate and activates your parasympathetic (rest + digest) system.
If your body’s been spending too much time in "hair on fire" gear for a while, it might feel weird to take it slower at first, but with some practice, you can move away from "tired and wired" to "calm, cool, and ready to rest” in no time!
P.S. If you’re a busy, tired mom who's trying to get your own habits in order so you can show up better in yout life...and you want to feel more rested, in control of your health, and more like yourself, my '7 Night Relax & Recharge Routine' coaching program can help you build the best bedtime habits that actually work for you!
I hope you'll join me there for your self-guided but fully coach-supported 7 night routine that will change the way you sleep and improve the way you feel.
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