Amy Woidtke (woid-key)

Interior Decorator | Redesigner: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Mercer Island
Seattle, Washington

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Sleepless in Seattle:: When the Brain Won't Shut-up!

So much to do in this start-up world: clients, marketing, designing, networking, admin-ing, web updating, writing, blogging, twittering... What to do when your brain won't shut up at night and let you sleep?

Written Oct 02, 2008, read 3592 times since then.

Oh vey! Last night my brain was a whirl of business, and not so much of sleepage. When I was sleeping, I was dreaming of business, which when you really just want to sleep, is more like a nightmare! So much to do in this start-up world: manifesting, marketing, managing, designing, networking, admin-ing, web-ing, writing, blogging, twittering...yikes! And we all know, not sleeping is not condusive for next day productivity (insert doing the craninal dip at the computer)!

As I lay there in bed, envying the deep sleep of my sweetie next to me (insert sounds of snoring and deep, peaceful breathing), I realized that the only way to shut my brain up was to immediately get more deeply connected with my body, in order to re-route my brain functions, so I could get the heck to sleep! My first solution is always hot, relaxing shower.

Well, as I stood there re-routing my brain, I knew I was not the first start up indie to ever be sleepless in Seattle, or non-start up indie, for that matter! Ideas flooded my mind of helpful tips for getting to and back to sleep for all my indie friends, and I knew I had an article to write today.

Helpful Tips for Getting to and Back to Sleep for More Productive Days

When the brain is whirling in thought process in the middle of the night, it needs to be re-routed to body process and sensation in order to quiet down the "churning factor." Less politely put, that would be "SHUT UP BRAIN! QUIT TALKING TO ME!"

The key to re-routing is to do things that connect you with your body. Following are some ideas that came to my mind.

Take a hot shower or bath to intitate relaxation and calming. Forgive yourself for the high amount of water and energy usage you are about to partake in because this is NOT an eco-friendly event kids! Haha. Make it as hot as you can stand it, but try not to relax so much you fall over and kill yourself by hitting your head. The idea is to get some sleep till morning, not instigate permanency!
While lying in bed, try long, deep breathing, inhaaaaaale.....exhaaaaaaale. Repeatedly. You just may konk out doing just this. It's worked for me before.
Also while lying in bed, tense the muscles in your body, one part at a time. Start with the toes, squeeze and tight as you can, release and exhale. Work your way up the body. I've passed out before even reaching my head doing this!
Gentle stretching, yoga, etc. works too. Or, if you're really ramped up, do something more vigorous like jumping, shaking your body all over and letting out sounds. The neighbors might think you're a bit wacky, but we already know you are because you chose to be an indie biz person, so no loss there! Haha. Don't forget to do some deep calming breathing after all that jumping to take your heart rate down. Again, the goal is temporary sleep till morning, not permanent sleep by heart attack!
And last, but definitely not the least...if you have a partner that doesn't mind being woken up at night and is sympathetic to your sleepless plight, a little 1 on 1 fun is definitely known for inducing some good, sound sleep! If you're flying solo, well, have some 1 on 1 with yourself!

If NONE of that works, get psychological help in the morning. Haha. Just kidding. Seriously though, you may just need to get up and jot some stuff down so your brain can put the thoughts to rest for the night. Within reason, of course. We're talking notes, not novels!

Hopefully, you are more sleepful in Seattle, that sleepless and you'll never ever need to use any of my tips!

If you have any other ideas that have worked for you, we wanna hear them, so do leave comment!

Learn more about the author, Amy Woidtke (woid-key).

Posted by Peter Chee, Redmond, Washington | Oct 04, 2008

Thanks for the tips. I'll try and get some sleep now!
Posted by Antonis Remoundos, Kifissia, Attiki Greece | Oct 04, 2008

Great tips Amy, I want to add that usualy I cannot sleep easily after a long computer or television session. If i allow myself to be away from screens (or other attention keepers) and electrosmog for 1 hour, my mind has plenty of time to start and finish the debates. Then I sleep easily. Ok I don't live in Seattle, but I think this is not the problem :-)
Posted by amoreena herbage, Seattle, Washington | Oct 06, 2008

It seems my waking brain turns ideas over and over, as I think of design ideas/marketing tools/accounting habits, etc. So, I thought once I did make it to sleep, I would try to make my dreaming brain useful...I suggest to myself as I fall into sleep that I will dream of creative solutions to business problems.
Does it work? Well, I can say that I needed to come up with a floral design for a job coming up, and with giving myself the suggestion that I would dream of a design for the job, I did-not in total detail that I remember, but enough of a jumping off point to want me to keep trying to get my dreaming brain involved in the business action of the day! So, falling asleep is certainly something I cherish! -Amoreena, Midnight Blossom Floral Design
Posted by Krista Mehr, Seattle, Washington | Oct 08, 2008

Amy, I can really relate to those bursts of ideas that translate into lack of sleep! No matter what techniques I use to unwind my brain it never works so I just go with it. Ultimately it's not until that I accomplish what my brain/instinct is telling me to do that I'm finally able to relax. I'm glad there are others who have hyperbrains like me, one thing that does help is some pinot noir!
Posted by Marianna Paulson, Surrey, British Columbia Canada | Oct 24, 2008

Here's a little more information for you.

When we are stressed (simmering in negative emotions - fear, anger, worry, frustration, etc.) our body goes through 1,400 physical and chemical changes, including the release of cortisol.

Cortisol stays in your body for up to 13 hours, so even though you are tired and ready for bed, cortisol is still being processed, resulting in that over-active brain, leaving you Sleepless in Seattle or Surrey!

The key to transforming this is to learn techniques to balance the 2 branches of your nervous system, so that you sleep when you want to sleep and get up and go when you want to get up and go.
Posted by David Kuhns, Springville, Utah | Mar 11, 2009

I dream
of watching Amy dance
with me
at Gasworks Gallery
to rock -- not romance --
music.

It enlivens me
but, exhausted
by Amy,
and all her dancing
and air guitar
it isn't far
to creep
off to sleep.

Sweet sleepy memory
of dancing with Amy!
Posted by Amy Woidtke (woid-key), Seattle, Washington | Apr 10, 2009

We indeed tore up some serious floorage at Gasworks. :)

Nice writing David. Thanks for the homage ;)
Posted by Amy Woidtke (woid-key), Seattle, Washington | Apr 10, 2009

There are some interesting tips and feedback here. Thanks for your input everyone and for the great unwinding help!
Posted by Shaun Lawrence, Irvine, California | Sep 26, 2009

After I started my own accounting Firm in Laguna Hills, Ca, I was stressed to the max and losing sleep. Nice to know Im not the only one. Nice article and comments.

Shaun Lawrence Tax Accountant Laguna Hills