Sleepless Nights, Exhausted Days: How I Broke the Cycle of Always Feeling Tired
It’s 2:47 a.m.
Again.
I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind is racing.
I’m thinking about the assignment I didn’t finish, the bill that’s due next week, the text I forgot to reply to, the laundry still waiting to be folded, and why I feel like I’m always five steps behind — even when I’ve been running all day.
The house is quiet, but my brain won’t shut up.
And I know what’s coming: another day of dragging myself through the fog, snapping at my kids for no reason, feeling guilty for not being more present, more focused, more “together.”
The Cycle That Kept Me Stuck
It wasn’t just one sleepless night. It was many.
It wasn’t just about being tired — it was about being wired and tired at the same time.
Too tired to be productive, too anxious to sleep.
And then I’d spend the next day trying to push through — caffeine, adrenaline, guilt.
Crash.
Repeat.
What made it worse?
I thought it was normal.
That being exhausted was just the price of being a “strong” woman.
That tiredness was just part of the job — of motherhood, ambition, responsibility.
But here’s the truth no one told me:
Being tired all the time isn’t a badge of honour.
It’s a sign that something is out of alignment.
The Turning Point: A Wake-Up Call in Broad Daylight
One afternoon, I forgot to pick up my child from school.
I was home, staring blankly at my screen, trying to write a paper, and I lost track of time. I’d put a reminder on my phone — but I’d accidentally set it for 3:45 a.m., not p.m.
The phone rang. It was the school office. My heart sank.
I apologised. Rushed out. Hugged my child. And cried in the car.
It wasn’t just about being forgetful. It was about being overloaded.
I was trying to be everything to everyone… on empty.
That day, I promised myself: I will stop glamorising exhaustion.
I need rest.
Not just sleep — rest.
Sleep Isn’t the Problem — Overthinking Is
I didn’t just have trouble sleeping because I went to bed late.
I had trouble sleeping because I couldn’t turn my mind off.
So I started tracking the thoughts that kept me awake:
- Did I do enough today?
- What if I’m falling behind?
- Why can’t I get my life together?
- What if I fail?
Every night, the same anxious soundtrack played on loop.
And no amount of lavender oil or herbal tea could fix that.
I needed to create a calm temple for my mind, not just bedtime routines.
My 3-Step Fix: Rest as Resistance
I did three things that slowly began to shift the cycle:
1. I Created a “Brain Dump” Ritual
Before bed, I wrote down everything swirling in my head — from to-do lists to emotional noise. I called it my “mind cleanse.”
Just getting it out gave my brain permission to slow down.
2. I Gave Myself a Realistic Cutoff Time
No more late-night hustling. I chose a “shutdown time” — even if I wasn’t done with everything. It felt uncomfortable at first… but it also felt like a boundary.
I said: “Work ends here. I’ve done enough.”
3. I Replaced Guilt with Gratitude
Instead of asking, “Why didn’t I do more today?”
I asked, “What did I actually manage to do — even while tired?”
This simple shift helped me see myself with more kindness… and made sleep feel more like a reward, not an escape.
Rest Is a Right — Not a Reward
If you’ve been running on empty, let me remind you:
You are not weak for needing rest.
You’re human. You’re worthy. You’re enough.
✅ Ready to Take Action?
Grab my “Sleep + Rest Reset Tracker” — a FREE printable that helps you:
- Identify the real reason behind your sleepless nights
- Track your evening stress triggers
- Create your own wind-down ritual
- Stop the guilt spiral before bed
- Sleep softer, wake stronger
“Rest isn’t lazy. It’s what allows you to rise again — with clarity, courage, and compassion.”
The balanced Wealth Studio
