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Hey there Goddess,
For years, I thought my “can’t sleep” problem was just bad luck.
No matter how exhausted I was, my brain would throw an after-hours rager the second my head hit the pillow. You know the type:
- Replaying arguments from 2008
- Wondering if I sounded “weird” in that one text
- Mentally writing a grocery list at 2 a.m.
But the truth? It wasn’t me.
It was my nervous system — still revved up like I was being chased by a pack of wolves.
Chronic stress (and yes, especially from toxic relationships) trains your body to stay in high alert mode.
And high alert mode is basically the opposite of “let’s get some rest.”
The Shift That Changed Everything
It wasn’t melatonin.
It wasn’t wine (I mean… I tried).
It wasn’t even meditating myself into oblivion.
It was this:
I started closing my “fight or flight” loops before bed.
Here’s what I mean:
Your body needs a signal that the danger is over before it can relax. So now, every night before bed, I do a nervous system reset ritual.
It’s 5 minutes. Zero woo. Doesn’t require yoga pants.
- I shake out my arms and legs like I’m trying to fling off the day
- I take three ridiculously deep breaths (shoulders drop, jaw unclenches)
- I put one hand on my heart, one on my belly, and just breathe for 60 seconds
Result? I sleep. Like, actually sleep.
If your nights are full of tossing, turning, and rehearsing conversations you’ll never have, try it tonight.
And if you want more simple, powerful tools to reset your system (in the middle of chaos, at your desk, in your bathroom when you just need a break), I put my favorites into a bite-sized guide:
💌 Reset in 15 — my pocket-sized nervous system reboot for when life feels like too much.
You get to choose what to pay for a limited time! Printable and phone-friendly, so you can take it anywhere.
Your body deserves peace. Your mind deserves rest. And you, my friend, deserve to wake up without feeling like you just fought a war in your sleep.
Sweet dreams (for real this time),
Jessi 🖤
P.S. What’s your go-to nighttime ritual? Hit reply and tell me — I’m always collecting ideas.
