Tired, Wired, and One Group Text Away from Losing It? Here’s Why Your Stress is Begging You to Sleep.

Written By Amee Triscari

We all know sleep matters. But when your brain’s doing laps at midnight and your to-do list is still screaming like a toddler with no snacks, it doesn’t exactly feel like a realistic priority.

Let’s get honest: sleep and stress are codependent. When one’s off, the other throws a tantrum.
You’re not just “a bit off” after a bad night. You’re reactive, anxious, snappy, foggy… and weirdly starving for no reason. That’s not a character flaw. That’s your nervous system running on 1%.

How lack of sleep messes with your stress response

When you don’t sleep, your body goes into survival mode,  pumping out more cortisol (aka your stress hormone) to keep you alert. Your system literally thinks something’s wrong.


So even if nothing is, everything feels harder. Your threshold drops. Your patience? Gone. Your body? Wired. And now you’re too stressed to sleep, which makes you more tired, which makes you more stressed… and so the chaos loop continues.

You’re not dramatic. You’re dysregulated.
But the fix isn’t overhauling your entire life. You just need a few smart, evidence-backed moves to reset your system and get actual rest, not just a collapsed scroll-coma with drool (we’ve all been there).

Let’s break the cycle.

5 things that actually help you sleep better and stress less

1. Stick to a sleep schedule (yes, even on weekends - rude, I know)

Your nervous system craves rhythm. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day teaches your body when to chill. You know, just like you do for your kids.
If your bedtime is chaos, your energy will be too.
Try setting a “wind-down” reminder an hour before bed. It’ll feel like a buzzkill tonight, but next week? You’ll be sleeping like a tranquil baby sloth.

2. Put your damn phone down (yep, I went there sorry not sorry)
Scrolling might feel like winding down, but it’s doing the opposite. Blue light messes with your melatonin, and your brain stays in problem-solving mode, even if the “problem” is whether to cut bangs again (you loved them for 5 mins last time then they annoyed you every day since - don‘t do it).
Switch to low-stimulation before bed: stretch, read, journal, or just stare at your ceiling and vibe.

One less reel = one more REM cycle. And we want at least 5 of them a night. 

3. Get yourself some magnesium
If you’re twitchy, anxious, or waking up at 3am reliving a cringe moment from 2016,  you might be low on magnesium.
This mineral is magic for your nervous system. It helps regulate cortisol and activates your “rest + repair” mode.
You can take a supplement, use a magnesium spray, or throw some epsom salts in your bath and pretend you’re in a luxury spa. Fun fact: Aloe Vera has a high magnesium content, it also happens to be the main ingredient in every bottle of Magic Rub (yeah I went there).

Alsooooooo try the viral Sleepy Girl Mocktail (it went viral for a reason):hh

  • Fancy glass (mandatory)

  • Ice + magnesium powder + tart cherry juice (yes, tart, don’t get creative)

  • Top with sparkling water (or still if you’re a rebel)

  • Sip with your fave straw and a good book.
    Current read: Conditions of a Heart by Jessa Hastings. 1000000/10 recommend.

4. Build a bedtime routine your body recognises
This doesn’t have to be a Pinterest-level production. Just do the same 2–3 low-key things each night, in the same order, with the lights dimmed and the vibe peaceful.
PJs on. Phone off. Maybe a little stretch. Maybe a little Magic Rub.

And look I don’t make the rules but Magic Rub before bed is basically the law.

Why? Because this stuff works from the outside in. It’s packed with peppermint, eucalyptus, kunzea, and German chamomile to calm your system, ease tension, and get you in that soft, melty, sleep-ready zone. Especially when rubbed on your chest, neck, jaw or shoulders.
It soaks in fast (shoutout to my homie Aloe for that) and leaves you feeling calm, not sticky.

You’re not weak for needing support. You’re smart for finding what works.

Final word: Rest isn’t lazy. It’s leadership.

Stress isn’t something to “just push through.” It’s something you regulate. And your ability to regulate — physically, mentally, emotionally — starts with sleep.

So if you’re tired, wired, irritable, foggy, and one group text away from going full feral… you don’t need another productivity hack. You need to rest. Properly.

Start with sleep.
Then notice how everything else gets easier.

You good?
Go to bed.
I’ll wait.

Amee Triscari