Can a book change your life?

If it’s Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, the answer is yes. Absolutely yes.

When I think back to life before I read this book, I feel a bit sick.

Sleep and I didn’t have a happy relationship.

I loved sleep, but honestly I don’t think I loved myself enough.

I’d stay up late — way too late — and then I’d struggle to get up in the morning.

I can still remember that constant tired feeling, the longing for just another 10 minutes in bed.
But nope, it was get up, get myself and other people ready, rush out the door and to the school gates, head to the office.
By 9am I’d been up for around 2 and a half hours, and I was reeeeallly tired.

And the day was just starting.

The thing is, nothing would have improved much with an extra 10 minutes in bed in the morning.

Back when I was trying to be all things, to all people, all the time, these were my thoughts about why I’d stay up into the wee hours:
🤫 I like having the quiet of the house, after everyone has gone to bed
🥘 Once I’ve dealt with all there is to do — post-school activity, meals, kids’ bedtime, life admin — then I’ll have some time for me
🌬 Late at night is when I get my 2nd wind to focus on work that I didn’t have enough thinking space for in the day

All of these thoughts made sense to my stressed-out, tired brain.

And then I read Why We Sleep.

I’m pretty certain I took immediate action to establish a better bedtime for myself.

I started with a single goal: be in bed before midnight.

[if you’re reading this and think midnight sounds late, you don’t want to hear what my bedtime usually was; if you’re reading this and thinking midnight sounds early — message me and let’s talk!]

The step of starting with midnight was huge psychologically. Getting to bed before the clock hit 00:00 and a whole new day had started — it was a big step.

Gradually, over the years, I’ve kept moving the time forward, so now bedtime is by 10:30/11:00.
I feel more human, more able to think clearly, less reactive. Less exhausted.

I owe it all to this book.

All those stories I told myself about why I liked staying up late…they had to go.

Now, getting to bed at a decent time is the way I tell myself that I care about myself.

Sleep is my “me time”. Other stuff may have to wait. Most likely all that stuff I was doing late at night didn’t matter much anyway.

It certainly didn’t matter as much as my health.

If you relate to feeling tired and you’d like to hear more about how to get a better balance, where rest and play is an essential, and not optional, part of your life, book a call with me using my calendar link.

I’d love to support you.

And if you haven’t read yet, read Why We Sleep.

Thank you, Matthew Walker, for this book.

Truly a game-changer for me.