Are you feeling stressed out all the time? If so, you might not realize that sleep deprivation could be the hidden culprit. Many of us push ourselves to the limit, juggling responsibilities, careers, and family life, all while sacrificing sleep. But lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling exhausted—it can affect your mental clarity, emotional stability, and even physical health. In this episode of The Parenting Cipher, I dive deep into my own experience with extreme sleep deprivation and the toll it took on my life. If you’re constantly feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, and unable to focus, it’s time to take a serious look at your sleep habits.
We’ll explore the science behind sleep deprivation, how it impacts executive functioning, and why breaking free from grind culture is essential for better rest. Plus, I’ll share some practical strategies to help you get the quality sleep your body needs so you can stop feeling stressed out and start feeling well-rested and empowered.
But it affects you physically, too. It increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Also, it causes problems with your immune function, difficulty with blood sugar, increased weight. The poor immune system is a real problem because your body heals and resets when you rest.
Christine Job, in Episode nine, talks about how rest is important for the mental health of black people because it gets us away from the grind culture. That the grind culture was the creation of white supremacists, and we need to get away from that mindset. And one of the ways that we can do this is to get rest. But so many of us never do that.
What you've been doing is killing yourself, even though it doesn't seem that way. It is. We shorten our longevity with the grind culture that's based on a system that didn't care about us. So show yourself some love. Slow down, get some rest
After my personal experience of extreme sleep deprivation, I learned how to take care of myself. And it took some looking into. One of the things I do now is meditate. Meditation can mimic the brain waves of sleep. So what's important is that REM, that brain activity that resets the body.
There are plenty of meditations on Spotify and YouTube. Just have a listen.
So, meditation is one way to help you, but exercising regularly creates a rhythm within your body and helps produce all these healthy hormones in your brain. Creating a nighttime routine and sticking to a bedtime schedule on weekends and even holidays will help. You will create a natural biorhythm, and soon you won't even need an alarm clock. And one more thing, don't drink caffeine in the afternoon. Just don't do it.
So there you have it. You got to check out the show to hear about my personal experience with sleep deprivation. It might shock you what a serious lack of sleep can do. It's a real cautionary tale. Now I sleep like a baby, and I hope you're catching some good Zzz's too.
If you’ve been feeling stressed out and running on empty, it’s time to make sleep a priority. As I learned firsthand, constantly pushing through exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a serious health risk. Whether you’re struggling with brain fog, mood swings, or simply feeling drained, improving your sleep habits can change everything.
Let’s ditch the grind culture mindset and show ourselves some love by getting the rest we need. Small changes—like creating a bedtime routine, limiting caffeine, and practicing meditation—can make a big difference. If you’re tired of feeling stressed out, listen to this episode and take the first step toward better sleep and a healthier life.
In this episode of The Parenting Cipher, Genie shares her experience with extreme sleep deprivation and what it took to get the help she needed to take care of herself.
Genie’s story reveals how overthinking and guilt can lead to sleep deprivation, a problem that many of us suffer from whether we realize it or not. Sleep is so important to our well-being and ability to make good decisions, so find out how to get better sleep in this episode of The Parenting Cipher.
Host of The Parenting Cipher, Genie Dawkins is a single mother of four and has over 25 years of being a parent advocate of special needs children. In addition to obtaining her Certification in Integrative Health Coaching, Lateefa holds an M.S. in Non-Profit Management and a B.S. in Social Sciences. Genie is the best-selling author of two books “Not My Child: Navigating Your Child’s Learning Difficulties with IEP’s and Education Resources” and a recent release “The Joyful Family Planner”. As an educational advocacy specialist, her mission is to help parents achieve a balanced life and overcome inevitable challenges both at school and home in a way that empowers parents and children.
What is sleep deprivation? What are its potential causes and symptoms?
The effects that sleep deprivation can have on your executive functioning skills and overall well-being.
Genie personal story with sleep deprivation and how it changed her life.
Connections between “grind culture” and sleep deprivation
Tips to break free from the grind culture, get more rest, and show yourself some love.
Genie Dawkins
Website: Genie Dawkins
Twitter: @genie49317
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Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.
If you’d like to hear Genie’s favorite song for Stressed Out: Sleep Can Make You A Better Parent click on the playlist below.
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Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.