Your Body is Talking. Are You Listening?

Let’s look at the day differently. Think of it as two 12-hour sections, one for day and one for night. What we do during the first 12 hours—how we eat, hydrate, rest, and get sunlight—has a powerful impact on the second 12 hours when we are trying to sleep.

Every action in the day echoes into the night. For example, delaying a meal when your body is expecting to eat might not seem like a big deal, but it causes stress. That stress doesn’t just disappear. Hours later, you may find yourself wide awake, restless and annoyed, with no idea why you can’t get back to sleep.

Your body is giving you information. It’s saying, “I was stressed earlier, and now it’s showing up.” If you’ve ignored your body’s signals throughout the day—like hunger, thirst, emotional overwhelm, or lack of movement—those things don’t go away. They build, and they often show up louder in the night.

Why You Wake Up Anxious at 3AM

The first four hours of sleep are typically the deepest and most restorative. During this time, your body shuts down all non-essential activity to heal and repair. This is why some people think they can survive on just four hours of sleep. They feel temporarily okay when they wake up in the middle of the night.

But what really happens is that your body comes to, checks in with your environment, and asks, “Are we safe? Have we dealt with our stress?” If the answer is no, it wakes you up.

This is when your mind floods with worry. You start thinking worst-case scenarios. You toss and turn, filled with adrenaline and cortisol. You are not broken or alone for feeling this way. Your body is simply overtired and unable to think clearly.

This Cycle Can Be Broken

Sleep isn’t just something that happens. It’s something we prepare for. And preparation starts the moment we wake up.

If you’re living in a cycle of stress, burnout, and broken nights, the first step is kindness. Kindness to yourself, to your body, and to the process of slowing down and listening.

Eat regularly. Hydrate often. Rest when you can. Seek natural light early in the day. Build a calm wind-down in the evening. And most importantly, know when you need support.

You don’t need to feel like this anymore. If your child is stuck in this cycle too, know that support is available.

I’m here to help you shift from survival to rest. From running on empty to waking up restored.