Hey there!
Have you ever woken up feeling like you simply closed your eyes... then opened them again and it was already morning? No dreams. Just the feeling that your brain was running the entire time.
Me too. 🙈
I've actually been dealing with this over the past few weeks, and it's such a strange feeling. It's like I close my eyes, then I open them and suddenly it's morning. It made me wonder what was going on, so I did what I usually do... I went looking for the science.
As it turns out, sleep researchers say this experience is more common than we think. It doesn't always mean we didn't sleep. More often, it points to the quality of our sleep rather than the number of hours we spent in bed. 🔬
Can stress make us feel like we never slept?
Yes. When we're under prolonged stress, our body produces more cortisol, the hormone that helps us stay alert. While that's useful during the day, elevated cortisol at night can make it harder for our brain to settle into deep, restorative sleep. Studies have found that stress is linked to lighter sleep and more brief awakenings throughout the night. We may not remember these interruptions, but they can leave us waking up feeling as though we barely slept. 😴
Why can sleep be disrupted without us knowing?
Not every sleep interruption wakes us up completely. Small "micro-awakenings" can happen because of acid reflux, snoring, discomfort, noise, or even the normal transitions between sleep stages. Since these awakenings are often too brief to remember, we may think we slept soundly all night. In reality, those tiny interruptions can reduce the amount of restorative sleep our body gets, leaving us feeling exhausted the next morning. 🌃
What does inflammation have to do with sleep?
Sleep and inflammation have a fascinating two-way relationship. Research suggests that poor sleep can increase inflammatory markers in the body, while ongoing inflammation may also interfere with healthy sleep. In other words, poor sleep can contribute to inflammation, and inflammation may make it harder for us to get the restorative sleep we need. It's a cycle that can be difficult to break. ♻️
If we've ever wondered why eight hours of sleep can sometimes feel like eight minutes, our body may be reminding us that it's not just about how long we sleep... it's about how well we sleep.
Small habits like managing stress, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, and addressing issues such as acid reflux can all support better sleep quality. Since sleep and inflammation are so closely connected, supporting our body's natural inflammatory response is another way we can invest in our overall wellness. That's one reason Oleia Oils and Softgels remain part of my daily routine. They help me stay focused on caring for my body every day, even when restful sleep feels out of reach. How about making it a part of your routine too?
Show me your bottle and I'll show you mine? 'Til next time! 💜
xo, L.
References:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5449130/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961463/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00424-011-1044-0
