Want to Stop Doomscrolling? You Might Need a Sleep Coach

City: Sleep is important for everyone, but many have trouble getting enough. When adults face stress from work, family, or loss, their sleep gets affected. Some have struggled with sleep since they were kids. They might say, “I’m an insomniac.”

As a sleep consultant for over 20 years, I help both parents and adults. I first noticed that kids’ sleep issues caused stress in families. When I helped kids sleep better, their parents still struggled with old habits.

There are two main problems people face. Some have trouble falling asleep, and others wake up at night. They may ignore what happens during the day. One client ate most of their food at night. This made them wake up to eat. Another client worked out a lot but drank too much water and woke up to use the bathroom.

Sometimes, people can’t focus. A mom forgot to buckle her child’s seatbelt. Others might misplace their keys. I start with the basics. We talk about sleep hygiene, which includes ideas you can find online, like having dark shades. But many think they’re fine when they really need help spotting issues. That’s where a coach can make a difference.

People have stories about sleep that are not helpful. For example, they might think, “If I sleep, then I’m not working hard enough.” It’s important to tell yourself new stories about sleep. I also use journaling, therapy techniques, and breath work to help.