Simply put, Sleep Mindset is the collection of beliefs and feelings you have about sleep.
Through my work with female entrepreneurs, I hear a consistent statement. “I know that sleep is important, but I still feel like I’m wasting my time. I can get more done if I stay up.”
Why is this thought so prevalent?
For some, it’s the anxiety about what happens when they get in bed. Will they sit there awake, staring at the ceiling, struggling to fall asleep? When this happens, will they beat themselves up for not being able to get sleep? Will they get to sleep and then have a little person wake them up in the middle of the night because they’ve had a nightmare? Will they have recurring thoughts about all of the work they could be doing if they were not in bed? For some, the idea of waiting until they’re so exhausted that they collapse into bed and pass out seems like the best solution.
Our relationship with sleep has also been impacted by our society. We’ve all been told that the harder we work and the more we sacrifice, the more “success” we’ll have. In movies and on TV, the lives of doctors and lawyers are held up as the bar for success. Our society glorifies and celebrates pulling all nighters or only sleeping a few hours. It’s the proof of your dedication and how you show that you deserve the success that you’ve had. What they don’t show you is what happens after you live like that for a while. Exhaustion, medical crisis, depression, strained relationships, and burn out.
Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to choose between taking care of yourself and success. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I would argue that one cannot exist without the other. By shifting your Sleep Mindset, you are taking care of your body and in turn, your business. Doesn’t that sound more enjoyable than torturing yourself with sleep deprivation?
Give yourself permission to take care of your body and mind. Watch how spacious your life becomes. With this newfound space, your business will have room to grow in a way that allows you to create the life you imagined when you started this crazy adventure!
Sleep well,
Abby
Stay Tuned for Part 2 – 5 Reasons To Change Your Sleep Mindset
