Tune in for this episode where I interview Helen Sernett, the founder and host of the sleeplist podcast. There she turns restless nights into serene dreams with soothing recitations. Join her journey from sleepless struggles to restful rejuvenation, exploring resilience and the transformative power of neuroplasticity.
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Helen Sernett, founder, and host of the Sleep Lists podcast, was a non-profit fundraiser at the end of her rope struggling with a long list of medical issues.
Underlying all of it was the fact that she could no longer get herself to sleep. With Sleep Lists she serves up bedtime dreams every episode by reciting a lulling list of similar items.
Lately, she’s more well rested and less on edge. She records voice over work and speaks at events about her experience with resilience and the power of neuroplasticity.
Helen enjoys family time, cooking from scratch, and cosying up with a good book or movie.
In Helen’s words:
I felt like I was going crazy. I felt frazzled, stressed, and burnt out as a non-profit fundraiser. At the same time, I felt an enormous sense of apathy. It snuffed out not just my desire to work but all my passions. I was the proverbial ship lost at sea. I made it back to shore when I took control of my sleep.
Regaining control of my sleep schedule and getting good rest improved both my mental and physical health. Sleep was the lynchpin in a host of medical issues I had been navigating (and some I still am figuring out). If you have never given thought to your sleep you are a very fortunate person. Those of us who have lost our way and face insomnia are adrift—lonely, scared, and in need of help, tools, and time to heal. I provide insights into what it’s like and how I found my way back to shore.
Now that I’ve found my way, I help others do the same. And if you’re one of the lucky ones, I want to make sure you never get lost in the first place. Women, middle aged people, non-profit workers, parents, caregivers, anyone with chronic illness, anyone who has ever felt burnt out in their career, and people who have big hearts tend to resonate with me and my story.
I embodied the expression of, “Work hard and sleep when you’re dead.” Now I fight against that culture of constant movement because I know the damage it does. If you want the secret to navigating change, being an adaptable person, finding a good mood, and gaining better health, it’s simple (but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy): sleep. I talk about how I help myself and others get it and why it’s so critical for brain, body, and spirit.
3 Top Tips
Treat sleep like your life depends on it, because it does.
If getting to sleep is tough, I have a tool that works really well.
Do your best to maintain a regular sleep schedule to help your body and mind.
