What if the most powerful thing you could do to fix your mood, your cravings, and your patience isn’t trying harder… but sleeping more?
Hey y’all, welcome to More Lovin, the podcast that brings more laughter, light, and love into everyday life. I’m your host LeAnn Austin, and together we’ll rediscover the beauty of connection to your body, your mind, your spirit, and the people you love.
Today’s episode #215: Sleep Before Solutions
Before we try to fix, improve, or figure everything out, let’s remember the five basics. Science shows us that when our bodies feel supported, our nervous system settles, our mind works better, and it becomes easier to choose more lovin with ourselves and with others.
These basics aren’t rules. They’re tools. Simple science backed ways to support your body so your heart, mind, and spirit can work together with more ease.
Throughout the next couple months, I’ll focus on each one of these five foundations.
Today we’re starting with what I believe is the anchor for everything else, and also the thing we try to bargain with the most: Sleep, not discipline, not willpower, not doing more. Sleep.
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough. When you’re sleep deprived, your body and brain are not broken, they’re doing exactly what they’re designed to do under stress.
Science tells us that even one night of poor sleep: increases our cortisol, increases hunger hormones like ghrelin, decreases the hormone leptin that helps you feel satisfied, and lowers emotional regulation and patience.
Which means when you’re tired: it’s harder to eat in a way that feels good. It’s harder to move your body with kindness, to respond instead of react, and to feel spiritually connected.
That’s not a character flaw, that’s biology.
More Lovin starts with understanding what your body actually needs, and sleep is key to making this happen.
Sleep is one of the most powerful nervous system tools we have. It’s when the brain clears waste, regulates emotion, and restores energy.
And yet we often treat it like a reward instead of a requirement.
I don’t know how lack of sleep is for you, but for me, everything feels much harder when I’m tired. I’m more reactive, less patient, less spiritually, mentally, and physically grounded, and I just don’t feel good.
But when I get the rest my body needs, it shifts my entire outlook on everything.
Sleep doesn’t solve problems, but it changes how we meet them. When we prioritize sleep, it helps us in every aspect of our lives, as well as the solutions that we’re choosing.
Let’s remember: Rest is not something we earn, it’s something we need.
So instead of asking: What time should I go to bed? Try asking: What would help me feel supported tonight? What could I let go of so my body can settle down?
Sometimes more lovin looks like: going to bed 30 minutes earlier, turning the lights down sooner, saying no to one more thing, letting good enough be enough.
Sleep isn’t quitting early, it’s choosing to show up better tomorrow.
Your body heals in rest what effort can’t fix. AND rest is not the absence of productivity, it’s the presence of wisdom. Hmmm, something to think about.
Here’s to sleep, calm, connection, and More Lovin. Have a good one y’all.
And go take a nap or climb into bed early tonight.
Thanks for tuning in. If you’re ready to take what we talk about here and make it personal, let’s work together one-on-one. I’ll help you calm your nervous system, strengthen your relationships, and create more loving, laughter, and calm in your life. You can find all the details at leannaustin.com
Until next time, keep choosing fun, connection, and a whole lot More Lovin. Have a good one y’all.