This past week, I had the opportunity to deliver a keynote to a large audience of social workers.
Now, I’ve been speaking for many years—but typically to groups of 50… maybe 100 people.
This audience?
👉 200 people
👉 20 tables of 10
And even with all of my experience…
I could feel my system a little more “on” than usual. I was nervous. No wait, I was excited!
And wouldn’t you know it…
My sleep started to reflect it. Leading up to the gig, I had a hard time not thinking about it.
My Apple Watch was NOT impressed. This happens sometimes before an important training or speaking engagement.
🌙 Sound familiar?
Because this is what happens for many people.
You can be capable, prepared—even confident…
and still have a mind that doesn’t fully power down at night.
Not because something is wrong with you—
but because your nervous system is still processing, anticipating, and trying to protect.
Before sleep, the mind starts to:
- replay conversations
- think ahead
- try to “figure things out”
That’s not a sleep problem.
That’s a nervous state problem.
🌿 What helped me shift it
Instead of fighting it… I worked with it.
I gave my mind something simple and steady to follow.
I slowed everything down.
Not just my breathing… but my thoughts.
Almost to the point of b o r i n g.
And something interesting happened.
My body followed.
My mind drifted.
And I woke up feeling grounded and ready. I didn’t wake up once the whole night!
And the keynote?
It went beautifully. It was so much fun. (Welcome to all of you who are new to my email list from that event!)
🌙 A simple sleep tip (this works)
If your mind starts racing at night…
👉 try s l o w i n g i t d o w n
- Stretch your thoughts out
- Slow your breathing
- Let things feel and sound super dull
Your brain can’t stay activated without stimulation.
And when you do that… your brain will let go.
🧠 This connects to something deeper…
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been writing about:
- why willpower alone doesn’t create lasting change
- how stress actually lives in the body
- how confidence is something we can learn to access
- and why we sometimes stay stuck in patterns
If you’re newer here (again, welcome 😊), you can explore those past topics here:
👉 Learn More
🌿 A quiet invitation
As I continue my hypnotherapy work, I’m offering sessions that help you:
- calm an overactive mind
- improve sleep
- reduce internal tension and anxiety
- build confidence
If that’s something you’ve been thinking about… you can simply reply to this email, and we can talk.
Sleep is not something you force.
It’s something you allow.
“Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day.”
~ Matthew Walker
Sleep well because your contribution matters.
Warmly,
Maureen
Leadership Trainer, Executive Coach, Certified Hypnotherapist, Speaker, and Author
