Our society has normalised the art of pushing through. Many people, especially busy midlife women, exist in a constant state of fight or flight. Perhaps you have fallen for the trap of hustle culture or simply convinced yourself that you only need 4-5 hours of sleep to get by. What you may not realise is the deeper impact that lack of sleep has on your cognition, mental health, nervous system and overall wellness. 

Dr. Nerina is an author, physiologist and sleep expert dedicated to helping people thrive, sleep more deeply and live more joyfully. In this podcast, Dr. Nerina breaks down all things sleep. From misconceptions to overcoming insomnia to types of sleepers, this episode has something for everyone.

The speed of technology, globalisation and the competitive demands of daily life have made it difficult for people to slow down and prioritise sleep. Many people have deemed it acceptable or normal to reduce rest in their life when really we should be placing this at the pinnacle of our daily priorities. 

How you sleep mirrors how you live. While it may not have as much of an impact on you in your 20s and 30s, midlife is a time to shift routines to better support a lifestyle of longevity. It’s time to value yourself enough to give yourself the gift of more sleep and more energy. 

Listen to this podcast to learn more about all the amazing takeaways Dr. Nerina has to offer! 

Key talking points of this episode: 

[1:00] Introduction to Dr. Nerina 

[4:11] Raise your sleep standards 

[8:09] Dr. Nerina’s personal struggles with sleep 

[10:25] Change takes energy 

[12:40] Common traits of people that normalise poor sleep habits 

[16:13] The glorification of hustle culture and stress in the workplace 

[17:48] Sleep arrogance and tired but wired 

[19:23] What happens when we sleep 

[23:45] Oversleeping and sleep inertia 

[26:17] Tools for quieting your mind for sleep 

[30:56] Breathwork and becoming aware of the body 

[35:06] Dr. Nerina’s observations at a psychiatric ward 

[39:55] Overcoming insomnia 

[43:47] Surviving and thriving 

[48:21] Are you ignoring the early warning signs? 

[51:25] Build pause into your day 

[54:15] Holding space and awareness for your emotions 

[57:21] Dr. Nerina’s five non-negotiables for sleep 

[1:00:45] Dr. Nerina’s relationship with movement 

[1:11:22] How does one nurture joy? 

[1:16:18] Allowing yourself to create boundaries 

[1:19:12] To find joy, you need to be well 

[1:22:47] Your creative flow needs space and energy 

[1:26:05] Tiredness means different things 

[1:27:28] Dr. Narina’s closing words

Find out more about her work at www.drnerina.com