Why Is It So Hard to Get Good Sleep?
If you’ve ever felt like a decent night’s sleep is some kind of distant dream, you’re not alone. Sleep is one of the most common struggles I hear about from new parents, pregnant folks, and honestly—just about everyone. You crawl into bed exhausted, only to find your brain buzzing. Or maybe you finally fall asleep, but wake up a few hours later and can’t drift back.
…Or maybe you’re scrolling and you know you shouldn’t be but you still are? (Been there)
So why is good sleep so hard to come by?
Your Body Is Doing Big Work
If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum, your body is going through constant shifts in hormones, blood sugar, digestion, and body temperature. All of those play a role in whether you can fall asleep easily and stay asleep deeply. Even your muscles and joints can ache in new ways that make it harder to get comfortable.
Your Brain Won’t Shut Off
Our nervous systems are not wired like on/off switches. When your brain is stuck in “go mode” all day, it doesn’t always know how to switch into “rest mode” at night. Add in worries about your baby, to-do lists, or anxiety about the future—and suddenly your 2 a.m. brain feels wide awake while your body is begging for rest.
Modern Life Isn’t Sleep-Friendly
Blue light from screens (hello doom-scrolling), unpredictable schedules, constant notifications, and the pressure to “do it all” chip away at our natural rhythms. Even when you want to prioritize rest, it can feel like there’s no room for it.
Where THRIVE Comes In
Inside my THRIVE method, the “R” is for REST—because without it, nothing else works the way it should. Rest is more than just sleep; it’s about creating space for your body and nervous system to downshift. That’s why there’s an entire module dedicated to why it’s so hard to get enough sleep—and what to actually do about it.
In Beyond Birth Baby Steps, we build your foundation one step at a time. Instead of just throwing sleep tips at you (because let’s be real—“just sleep when the baby sleeps” is not helpful), I guide you through how to:
Understand what’s blocking your rest
Create realistic rituals for your season of life
Use nervous system tools to actually fall asleep
Build a foundation that supports all the other THRIVE pieces—tuning in, hydration, nourishment, movement, and emotional connection
When you start here—with REST—you’re setting yourself up for every other part of recovery and growth.
If sleep feels impossible right now, it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your body and brain need support, and that’s exactly what the Beyond Birth Baby Steps course is designed to give you. Step by step, tool by tool, you’ll learn how to reclaim your rest and rebuild your foundation.
Thriving starts with REST!
Love,
Emily
