Why All the Sleep Advice is Making Your Insomnia Worse

This is another “Rant, Rave, and Review” style episode with three main segments. In these episode, I share personal thoughts and insights on current trends and health topics. 

Listen in to hear my thoughts today on: 

1. The trend of recipes titled with “Marry Me” … do I love it or cringe hard core?

2.  The Gua Sha Facial Tool … helpful or just hyped up?

3. An article about Americans and insomnia …was the data surprising to me in this article about sleep? Do I agree with it?

Early Morning Decisions and Wakefulness

Have you ever found yourself wide awake before your alarm goes off, even though it’s clearly not time to get up yet? That happened to me at 4:33 this morning—I felt awake and realized that going back to sleep for a short 10 to 30 minutes would make me feel like I’d been hit by a truck. Instead, I decided to get up early, finish a study in the book of Mark I was working on, and start my day with a workout before meeting with clients. This extra 30 minutes in the morning transformed my day and made me grateful for an article about sleep attitudes that I’m eager to share with you.

Rant: The “Marry Me” Recipe Phenomenon

Let’s start with something that’s been bugging me lately—those trendy “Marry Me” recipe titles. Have you noticed them too? They’re everywhere! From “Marry Me Chicken” to “Marry Me Butter Beans,” the trend has spiraled into the absurd. It all started in the early ’80s with a roast chicken recipe at Glamour Magazine and has since become something of a viral sensation. While I’m all for engaging food names, the notion of tying marriage proposals to recipes feels a bit overdone. Can we bring back creativity and just call a dish what it is?

Rave: The Facial Tool That Gave My Mornings a Boost

Now, onto something I’ve been enjoying—a nifty little skincare tool called the Gua Sha. My skincare-savvy friend introduced me to it, and it has changed my morning routine for the better. This tool, often crafted from jade or rose quartz, helps de-puff my eyes and wake up my face with simple strokes from the center of my face outwards. The stainless steel version I own is easy to clean and invigorates me every morning. It’s a small, yet effective, self-care ritual that I’ve grown to appreciate.

Review: An In-Depth Look at Sleep

Let’s talk sleep, an area where societal pressures and personal habits often collide. I recently read a compelling article titled “American Insomnia” by Jennifer Senior in The Atlantic. This piece reveals how sleep needs can differ by individual and age, and challenges us not to over-fixate on sleep advice that’s traditionally touted. Despite the cascade of guidance surrounding sleep hygiene—such as cool room temperatures and screen bans—the evidence supporting these tips remains minimal.

Moreover, sleep’s importance is undeniable, but the excessive focus on tracking every minute of sleep can engender anxiety. This phenomenon, termed ortho somnia, illustrates how preoccupation with sleep data from devices can actually disrupt sleep itself. The key takeaway here is about moderation; maybe it’s time we stop stressing over perfect sleep metrics and find comfort in what works for us personally.

Hope and Perception in Sleep Culture

Different cultures offer intriguing perspectives on rest; some don’t even have a word for insomnia, acknowledging a pattern of segmented sleep instead of continuous eight-hour blocks. This reframing might suggest that irregular sleep need not necessarily be problematic and encourages us to understand our unique sleep requirements.

For those facing chronic sleep challenges, treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) exist. These focus on consolidating quality sleep and changing thought patterns around rest. Additionally, let’s lift the stigma surrounding sleep medication, recognizing that it can be as crucial as any other health treatment.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear about your sleep experiences. Do you spring out of bed refreshed or find yourself wide awake at odd hours? Feel free to text me your thoughts via the link in the episode description—it’s completely anonymous, I promise.

Next week, stay tuned for another solo episode where we’ll explore an often overlooked aspect of fitness and personal training. Until then, go out there and have a graced day!

Episode Links

To hear the first Rant, Rave, and Review episode, listen here:
Rant, Rave, & Review: A Fresh Perspective on Headlines, Social Media Breaks, and the Science of Tiredness

Gua Sha tool for face  

“American Insomnia” by Jennifer Senior/The Atlantic

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