My Struggles With Sleep and Nutrition

I have recently realized that my relationship with sleep and nutrition is not the best.

I struggle with a fear of missing out, and it often prevents me from prioritizing my medication routine. For instance, on a Friday night, I may be fixated on the idea of going out and having fun, hoping that someone will invite me. This anxiety throws off my routine and makes it challenging to do the right things for a good night's sleep.

I struggle to prioritize a sleep routine

My sleep hygiene is not as good as it needs to be, and this affects how I feel about my medication routine. Sleep hygiene consists of factors such as the sleep environment, what you are wearing, and what you do before bedtime and after waking up.

Personally, I struggle to prioritize winding down before going to bed. This leads to me accidentally falling asleep and waking up later than intended, which affects my medication routine. Sometimes, I may not have dinner at an appropriate time, which further impacts my sleep hygiene.

How I am making healthier choices

To improve my relationship with sleep and nutrition, I am trying not to judge myself and instead approach situations with curiosity. This allows me to make healthier choices for my sleep and nutrition.

Sticking to a schedule

For anyone struggling with eating and taking medication, here are some practical tips. Stick to a consistent schedule to strengthen the relationship between sleep and nutrition. Knowing when you will go to bed can also help with choosing what you are going to eat, which alone can greatly reduce any nighttime stress you may be having.

Improving my relationship with food through therapy

The fear of missing out may not go away, but understanding that we have control over our lives can help us cope with it. Control is a big theme for me. Feeling like I don’t have control in my life causes me to be anxious.

I've recently started going to therapy, and I think personally that that is going to help me a lot when it comes to my sleep hygiene. This is going to help my relationship between sleep and nutrition a ton because I will learn about the core root of why I have the behaviors that I have. Being able to actually learn what those are will allow me to put certain things into place so that my relationship with food and nutrition can be better.

Approaching situations with curiosity, not judgment

My therapist was the one who told me to approach situations with curiosity instead of judgment. Going to a therapist allows me to have that control that I want to have over my life. My narcolepsy is a big part of my life, and what I put in my body is a huge part of my life. If I don't get those 2 things down lock, I might not be able to accomplish everything that I know I can.

What tips do you have for making better sleep and nutrition choices?

I want to know what kind of tips you may have when it comes to dealing with sleep and nutrition. Please feel free to share in the comments below!