How tracking sleep problems can lead to sleep anxiety in your 40s or 50s | What to do about it
One of the other common dynamics I see in my sleep coaching practice is how tracking, monitoring and overanalysing sleep problems can gradually lead to sleep-related anxiety. When you've been struggling with sleep problems for a while, collecting more information about your nights doesn't necessarily help you understand what needs to change.
This is Part 3 of my four-part video series exploring sleep anxiety and the different ways it can develop alongside long-term sleep problems.
Sleep trackers and wearable devices can provide plenty of information. But what happens when your sleep score doesn't match how you actually feel? Or when checking your results leaves you increasingly worried without knowing what to do differently?
In this video, I explain how to start approaching this information in a more practical way, including recognising how it affects you, when to review your sleep patterns and how to use what you learn to make meaningful changes.
I'm not against sleep trackers or monitoring your sleep. But when these activities start contributing to anxiousness, it's important to reconsider whether they're helping you move towards overcoming your sleep problems.
If you're experiencing sleep anxiety alongside long-term insomnia or sleep problems in your 40s or 50s, this video will help you recognise this particular pattern and explore how to start reducing the nervousness and uncertainty it can create.
In the next and final video of this series, I'll explore sleep anxiety related to concerns about the long-term health effects of poor sleep.
If you're looking for personalised sleep coaching or support to fully overcome your long-term insomnia or sleep problems, you can arrange a Sleep Assessment appointment through my website.
Beatrix
It's always best to watch the entire video, but here are some chapters for you:
00:00 Introduction to sleep tracking and monitoring leading to sleep anxiety
02:17 First step is looking at how the information you receive makes you feel
05:17 Second step is changing the way you work with the information you receive from your tracker
08:00 I'm not against using trackers but please prevent this leading to sleep anxiety
08:44 Let's get really practical about how you're looking at your sleep problems
To get started overcoming your insomnia or sleep problems, download Chapter One of my book called Sleep Skills for Life
Sleeping well consistently every night is less about your science āknowledgeā and more about developing practical sleep skills
