321 - Your Sleep Toolkit: Powerful Strategies for Restful Sleep with Morgan Adams
Jan 17, 2025
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Morgan Adams, a holistic sleep coach and double breast cancer survivor, shares her journey from chronic insomnia to restful nights. She reveals unexpected reasons for midnight wake-ups and the critical role of morning routines in sleep quality. Tune in to learn how to leverage natural strategies, including light exposure and mindful drinking, to combat poor sleep. Morgan also debunks caffeine myths and offers alternatives like power naps to boost energy. Say goodbye to restless nights and hello to restorative sleep!
Understanding the difference between occasional sleep disturbances and clinical insomnia is crucial for seeking appropriate support and intervention.
Implementing effective sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining consistent wake-up times and reducing blue light exposure, can significantly enhance sleep quality.
Deep dives
The Importance of Understanding Sleep Challenges
Quality sleep is essential for overall well-being, and many mothers struggle to achieve it due to the pressures of family and work. The podcast emphasizes the significance of recognizing the difference between occasional sleep disturbances and clinical insomnia, which requires intervention. Clinically, insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep at least three times a week, leading to daytime dysfunction. Understanding these distinctions can help individuals seek appropriate support and not dismiss their sleep issues as normal fatigue.
Practical Sleep Hygiene Strategies
Effective sleep hygiene practices can significantly improve sleep quality for those facing difficulties. Key strategies include maintaining a consistent wake-up time to stabilize circadian rhythms and prioritizing exposure to natural sunlight in the morning, which promotes wakefulness. Additionally, implementing a routine that avoids eating too close to bedtime, limiting caffeine intake, and engaging in regular exercise can enhance sleep efficiency. These small adjustments can empower individuals to take control of their sleep environment without relying on medication.
Understanding Chronotypes for Better Sleep
Recognizing individual chronotypes can help tailor sleep and productivity patterns to optimize personal energy levels. There are various chronotypes, including morning larks and night owls, each with different peak activity times throughout the day. By understanding one's natural inclinations, individuals can schedule demanding tasks when they feel most alert and productive, potentially reducing sleep struggles linked to societal norms. Taking a chronotype assessment can provide clarity and help people embrace their unique sleep needs.
Addressing the Role of External Factors
External factors such as blue light exposure and alcohol consumption can severely impact sleep quality. The podcast highlights that excessive blue light, especially before bedtime, can disrupt melatonin production, hindering the body's ability to fall asleep. Similarly, while alcohol may initially promote drowsiness, it fragments sleep, particularly during REM cycles, leading to poorer rest overall. Implementing strategies such as reducing screen time before sleep and limiting alcohol consumption can help foster a more restorative sleep experience.
Ever feel like you’re too wired to rest but too tired to function? Welcome to the struggle so many high-achieving women know all too well.
Sleep is the real MVP when it comes to health, performance, and mood, yet it’s often the first thing we sacrifice. But what if getting solid, restorative sleep didn’t have to be a pipe dream?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Morgan Adams, a holistic sleep coach on a mission to help women reclaim their nights without relying on meds.
After battling a decade of insomnia and prescription sleep aids—and surviving breast cancer twice—Morgan’s perspective on sleep is as powerful as it is practical.
She’s all about giving you the tools to sleep better naturally, from morning routines to middle-of-the-night wake-ups, so you can wake up feeling like the boss you are.
Three things we dive into:
The surprising causes of middle-of-the-night wake-ups—and what you can do about them.
Why your morning rituals (yes, morning!) matter just as much as your evening wind-down.
Morgan’s top strategies to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling your best.
If you’re fed up with dragging yourself through the day on fumes, tune in to learn how to finally prioritize the rest your body and mind deserve.