How Stress Affects Your Sleep

Ever found yourself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep? We’ve all been there. Whether you’re up thinking about tomorrow’s responsibilities or have been feeling out of balance for a while, there’s one thing that might be interfering: stress. Feelings of stress and anxiety not only impact your day-to-day well-being, but they can also have a serious impact on your sleep.

When you’re stressed, falling asleep may not be your only issue, either. In fact, it can affect overall sleep quality, inferring with the deep rest we need to wake up refreshed. Maybe it’s the night before a big work or school deadline, and you find yourself waking up multiple times throughout the night with worry about what you need to complete looming in the background. 

While situational stress can lead to a night of poor sleep here and there, if you’ve been experiencing consistent stress, the impact is far greater. Rather than simply trudging through a day or two feeling tired, you’re likely to experience ongoing effects like lack of concentration, disruptions in learning and memory, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, and more. In this case, it’s incredibly important to address the root cause as soon as possible, as sleep and stress have a reciprocal relationship. This means that your stress is leading to sleep loss, which then leads to even more stress. 

So, how can you reduce the stress in your life?
We’re here to help. The first step, as we alluded to above, is to try and figure out what the primary cause of your stress is. Is it feeling overworked at your job? Navigating conflicts in your personal relationships? Once you know what’s feeding the feelings, you’ll be able to take actionable steps. Maybe you schedule a meeting with your boss to address your workload, or schedule an appointment with a therapist to talk through some of the life challenges you’ve been struggling with. These steps can help a ton! 

Another key tip in reducing stress is to create a wind-down routine. Often, we have trouble sleeping because we can’t release what’s stressing us out during the day. (We’re only human! This is normal). Try to turn off technology a few hours before bed, and lead yourself through a few self-care rituals. Take a warm bath, dim the lights, spend some time reading your favorite book… the choice is up to you. When you prioritize yourself and what nourishes your body and mind, stress will begin to melt away, helping you find the rest you need to begin again. For additional sleep support, you can turn to one of our natural solutions. Crafted with powerful botanicals like CBD, valerian root, and more, these formulas are the perfect addition to your wind-down routine and help you drift off, naturally. 

Here’s to relieving stress and finding your best rest!