Why Isn't Resting Helping?

If you're a woman living with an autoimmune condition, a long-term health condition or persistent low energy, have you ever found yourself thinking...

"Why isn't resting helping?"

I certainly did.

For years, every night I went to bed hoping I'd wake up feeling different. I thought if I was getting enough rest, I'd eventually have more energy, but that didn't happen.

It wasn't until I started paying attention that I realised something, although I'd stopped for the day, my mind and body hadn't. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was already thinking about tomorrow. Running through everything I needed to remember, replaying conversations and trying not to forget anything. I'd become so used to it that I didn't even notice how much energy those thoughts were using.

I also hadn't realised that just because I was exhausted, it didn't mean my mind and body were ready for sleep. Even when I thought I was relaxing, my body was still holding onto tension and my mind was still busy. Looking back, it's hardly surprising I wasn't waking up feeling refreshed.

What changed for me

Everything began to change when I started combining Qigong and EFT. Little by little, I remembered what it actually felt like to relax, not just to be in bed, but to give my mind and body the opportunity to settle before sleep.

Qigong helped my body release the physical tension I hadn't even realised I was carrying, while EFT helped calm the constant stream of thoughts that had become my normal. Together, they gave my mind and body the opportunity to relax in a way that sleep alone never could.

That's when I realised sleep wasn't going to do all the work on its own. What I did before I went to sleep mattered just as much. Instead of simply hoping I'd wake up with more energy, I started supporting my mind and body before I went to sleep. That doesn't mean every night is perfect. I still live with MS, and I still have to listen to my body but I no longer go to bed simply hoping tomorrow will be different. Instead, I know I'm giving my mind and body the opportunity to unwind before I go to sleep, and what I've learnt is that it's the small things we do consistently that make the biggest difference over time.

That's what inspired me to create The Evening Energy Reset.

I created it because I know what it's like to want something simple that you can come back to again and again, especially on the days when your energy is low. It's three short practices combining Qigong and EFT that fit into real life and help your body relax and your mind settle before sleep, so you can give yourself the best chance of waking with more energy tomorrow.

If you've ever found yourself wondering why resting isn't helping, it may not simply be about getting more sleep. For me, the biggest difference came when I gave my mind and body the opportunity to truly relax before sleep began.

Because tomorrow's energy often starts with how we end today.

You can find out more about The Evening Energy Reset here.

This article first appeared in the Welvow (formerly Seed) editorial archive.