Sleep Coaching
A brief intro to sleep
Sleeping is something we all do and are familiar with. A recent study found that sleep quality, not quantity, is the strongest predictor of mental health and overall well-being. Healthy diet, active lifestyle, and sleep are all pillars of a healthy life — which means sleep is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Research suggests adults need between seven and nine hours of good-quality sleep per night. It's worrisome that the majority of us don't get the sleep we need. Studies have tied sleep deprivation with:
- Stress
- Depression
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Strokes and heart attacks
- Obesity
- Type II Diabetes
- Cancer
- …and more
There's a common misconception that sacrificing sleep in order to work will ultimately increase productivity. Sleep-deprived people often don't realize their deprivation leads to mistakes, irritability, and mood swings. As a sleep coach, I help you find a healthy balance of sleep that fits your busy schedule so you can have the best of both worlds.
Insomnia
Sometimes restful sleep happens naturally; often enough, we just can't fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia, in simple terms, is difficulty sleeping. Many factors hinder proper sleep — stress, noise, light, diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of physical activity. Medical conditions and big life changes can also increase its prevalence.
Even if you're actively experiencing insomnia or another sleep disorder, don't get discouraged. With the right guidance, you too can attain the restorative sleep you need. As a certified Buteyko breathing re-educator, I incorporate customized breathing exercises and anxiety-reducing techniques into my sleep coaching practice.
Sleep coaching
A small disclaimer: a sleep coach is not usually a cognitive-behavioral specialist. If you have chronic sleep problems, I recommend making an appointment with your primary health care provider for proper diagnosis.
As a sleep coach, my main focus is to help you refine the quality of your sleep, improve productivity, and perfect your mood. It's a fairly new field born out of demand for better sleep after fast-paced, stressful days. I'll gather information to identify possible reasons for your disturbed sleep, guide you through making changes, and together we'll develop an incremental plan to achieve salubrious sleep.
Is sleep coaching right for me?
Sleep coaching is a natural, drug-free, interdisciplinary program. It's for people who want to learn:
- Proper sleep hygiene steps
- Create a sustainable sleep architecture
- How to increase melatonin production
- How to regulate circadian rhythm
- How to prepare your body and mind to relax in order to achieve restoring sleep
What is the timeline?
More about what an assessment and treatment plan look like is on the An Assessment with Julia page. If you're interested in getting in touch, please do so via the Contact page.