I was having coffee with a friend recently, and we were talking about The Sleep Lab and discussing what healthy sleep looks like. Then they made a comment that has been bouncing around in my head ever since.
“I can look up anything I need to know about sleep. So, why would I need a sleep coach?”
It’s a really good question. And one that I have been asked several times, and I keep on revisiting my answer.
Yes, lots of people have access to lots of knowledge. We are undeniably living in the age of information. Yet, information is only useful if we know what to do with it.
a) do we always understand how to apply what we know?
b) and even when we understand, do we always have the support, accountability and headspace to implement what we know?
Sleep research talks about how sleep deprivation affects your brain, and when I started reading more about the science of sleep, I found this information clicked for me.
It’s also quite scary stuff.
- 24 hours without sleep – you are operating like someone who is over the legal alcohol limit – behaviour that mimics being intoxicated – and yet how many of us have driven a car while sleep deprived?
- 48 hours without sleep – starting to have micro-sleeps without being aware you have fallen asleep and the possibility of hallucinations.
- 72 hours without sleep – difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not.
So, getting back to the question, “why would I need a sleep coach?” We got this.
No one NEEDS a coach, right?
A couple of years ago, I made the decision to join a gym and take classes with a personal trainer. Why? Any of us could exercise on our own or at home. I can download “exercise at home” apps, and do press-ups on the living room floor every morning. But many of us (myself included!) struggle to make this effective, or a long-term commitment. Not because we are useless or undisciplined or lazy, but because it’s very difficult to keep turning up, be objective, give accurate feedback, and to do the energy boosting when it’s you coaching you.
I know I can do things on my own. I can do exercise on a regular basis without a gym or a trainer. But am I going to push myself past where I think is comfortable? And the flip-side – am I able to support myself? Will I notice when I am over-doing it and accurately correct my form? Will I be kind when I need to be? And will I give myself helpful, constructive feedback that helps me make better choices?
I might try to do all these things. But, if I am being honest with myself, I need external forces to help me be a better me.
Dammit.
So, a sleep coach might not be a necessity, but sleep is! And from my own experience, getting what you need is sometimes impossible without help. When you are sleep deprived, exhausted and run down, you are physically impaired and it’s extremely difficult to make good choices or decisions.
Fundamentally, I see coaching as being ‘with you’. Not having all the answers, not telling you what to do. Instead, shining light on the resources and skills you already have and maybe nudging you towards your potential. When things are tough, that’s when you shouldn’t have to do it alone.
When has coaching been useful for you?