When I sat down to create this episode, I had several great ideas I wanted to explore. And usually, I really love the writing process. Putting an episode together, trying to find the right words, the right thoughts. It's satisfying work. But instead, I found myself sitting at my desk all morning, getting annoyed with myself because I wasn't making progress. I just felt uninspired. The truth is, I've been going pretty hard lately. And like a lot of you, I have a lot of responsibilities. And it's not always that other people expect a lot from me. It's that I expect a lot from myself. I think I'm just feeling fatigued. And you know what? That's okay. I have a vacation coming up soon, and I think that's part of the fatigue too. I've been trying to work ahead to get everything done before I leave. But just admitting to myself that I'm exhausted actually made me feel better. It gave me permission to go easier on myself. What about you? Is it possible that you're in need of more rest? More downtime? More self-care? Because being tired, being exhausted, affects sleep more than most people realize. When we push ourselves too hard for too long, we create a difficult cycle. We're tired but can't sleep. So that's what I decided tonight's episode is all about. And now I do feel inspired by the topic. It's built specifically for those of you who are doing so much, who sometimes feel like you're on a treadmill that doesn't have a stop button and is going just a little too fast right now. Tonight will help you get the sleep you deserve and help you create a little more space to look after your own needs. This is not a luxury. It's not an indulgence. It's a basic need. And before we start, it's very important that you are somewhere in which you can safely fall asleep. And yes, I'm looking at you, the one trying to squeeze in just one more email while listening to a sleep podcast. Put the phone down, friend. The world will still be there tomorrow. And if these episodes are helpful, please consider following the show. It's actually another form of self-care. The more you practice hypnotherapy, the better you get at it. And at Your Ticket to Snoozeville, we're committed to helping you become the most rested, balanced, and authentically yourself version of you. Not perfect. None of us are. But whole and well rested. Now let's talk about what happens when we run ourselves into the ground and how we can find our way back to restful sleep. Have you ever noticed how the nights you most desperately need sleep are often the ones when it's hardest to drift off? There's a reason for that. When we're constantly busy and overworked, our minds stay stuck in alert mode. It's like trying to stop a speeding car instantly. Your brain needs time to gradually slow down. At the same time, our bodies are still swimming in stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, the chemicals that keep us alert during busy days don't just disappear the moment we decide it's bedtime. They linger in our systems. Then there's the mental to-do list that seems to grow louder in the silence of night. All those tasks we're worried about forgetting, all those conversations, all those deadlines. They parade through our minds just when we need them to be quiet. Your fatigue is not a sign of weakness or failure. It's your body and mind delivering an urgent message. You need rest. And not just sleep, though that's certainly part of it, but true rest. A genuine pause in the constant doing and giving that fills your days. We live in a world that celebrates constant productivity, that measures worth by output and achievement. It's a world that treats rest as a luxury rather than the necessity it truly is. But tonight, right now, I'm giving you permission to reject that false narrative. Let's begin by simply acknowledging where you are right now. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and exhale completely through your mouth. With each breath in, feel yourself taking in acceptance. Acceptance of your limitations and your need for renewal. And with each breath out, release the judgment. The idea that your worth is tied to your productivity. Breathe in compassion. Breathe out criticism. Notice the gentle movement of air flowing in and flowing out. Feel how your chest rises slightly with each inhale and falls with each exhale. This rhythm has been with you your entire life, a constant companion from your very first breath. Begin to notice the subtle sensations of your body at rest. With each breath out, your heart rate gently slows. Can you feel that steady, calming rhythm in your chest? Your blood vessels dilate slightly, allowing blood pressure to ease, creating a pleasant warmth that gradually spreads through your limbs. Your muscles soften and release, becoming deliciously heavy. Notice how your skin feels against the fabric beneath and around you. These points of contact where your body is completely supported and held. The tiny muscles of your face that have been expressing emotions all day long can now release. As you rest here, all kinds of good things are happening. Your digestive system slows and your nervous system shifts from alert to calm. Healing hormones begin their quiet work, moving through your bloodstream to repair your cells. This is your body's natural state of rest. And as you continue to rest deeply, I'd like to invite you into a gentle visualization. Imagine yourself walking along a quiet street in a peaceful town. Up ahead, you notice a beautiful building with warm golden light glowing from its windows. It's made of red brick with stonework around the windows and doors. It looks solid and charming, trustworthy. Above the entrance, etched in elegant letters, are the words ENERGY BANK, your personal account. The large wooden doors open easily at your touch, revealing a serene sunlit space. A kind, wise banker approaches and greets you by name. On the desk between you sits a beautiful ledger book. The banker opens it, revealing a detailed accounting of your energy. You notice that the left-hand page shows your deposits, all the ways you've rested, cared for yourself, engaged in activities that bring you joy. The right-hand page shows your withdrawals, the demands, tasks, and obligations that have required your energy. Looking carefully at the recent entries, you might notice that your withdrawals have been exceeding your deposits. The banker points out, with gentle concern, that you've been operating on a deficit, giving more than you've been replenishing. They turn to a fresh page in the ledger. Let's reconsider your deposits and withdrawals. What truly deserves your energy? And what might you need to say no to or delegate to someone else? Imagine yourself deciding which of these withdrawals you might reduce or eliminate. Picture yourself writing that list, and for each one, feel the sense of relief as you cross it off or reduce its impact on your account. Next, turn your attention to the deposit page. What replenishes you? What fills your energy account? With vitality and well-being, see yourself listing these nourishing activities, whether it's quiet time alone, time in nature, meaningful connections, or simply doing nothing at all. The banker smiles approvingly as you add more deposits to your plan. They remind you every no to an unnecessary drain is a yes to your well-being. You have the right, the responsibility, to maintain a healthy balance. Before you leave, the banker presents you with a special energy account card that glows with a gentle, warm light. Your name appears on the front, an elegant, swirling script. The card has a pleasant weight to it, substantial enough to feel significant in your palm, but not heavy. When you run your finger across its surface, you feel a subtle vibration, like a gentle hum of recognition. This is your reminder, they explain, to protect the precious resource of your energy. Each time you maintain a healthy balance, you'll feel it grow warmer in your pocket, a reminder of the vitality that comes from caring for yourself. As you step back onto the street, you notice other people hurrying past. Some look tired, their faces drawn and gray, shoulders hunched under invisible burdens. You recognize in them what you've been feeling, the exhaustion of an overdrawn energy account. But now you know there's another way. You understand now, saying no to excessive demands is not selfish, it's wise stewardship of your limited energy. You feel the gentle warmth of your energy card in your pocket, and with it comes a renewed commitment to maintain your balance. You realize how good it feels to have energy available. Not just for tasks and obligations, but for joy, for creativity, for presence with those you love. You continue on your way, carrying not just the symbol of your account card, but a new awareness of your energy as a precious finite resource, worthy of protection and wise management. As we come close to the end of our journey tonight, feel yourself drifting closer and closer to sleep's welcome embrace. Your body has softened and your mind has quieted. You try so hard each day, and you accomplish so much. And yet, no matter how efficiently you move through your tasks, there will always be more waiting. It's like trying to catch falling leaves in autumn. For each one you grasp, two more drift down. And this is not failure on your part, it's simply the nature of life in this busy world. But tonight, in this moment, you have made the wise choice to step away from that endless cycle, to replenish your energy account with the most valuable deposit of all, deep restorative sleep. Your body needs this rest. Your mind has earned this peace. Release any remaining thoughts about tomorrow's tasks or today's unfinished business. They will wait. The world will continue turning without your vigilance for these few precious hours. Allow yourself to drift now, to surrender completely, to sleep. With each breath, feel yourself sinking deeper into comfort, your energy account filling with the quiet power of renewal. Right now, in this place, there are no demands. There are no expectations. The only thing asked of you here is to receive, to receive rest, renewal, and a remembering of who you are beneath all the roles you play. Notice that your breath has deepened, and your muscles have softened. Your mind has slowed. And as you rest here, let yourself receive these truths. Your worth is not measured by your productivity. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It's essential. The world will continue to turn if you pause. You deserve rest simply because you exist. Feel your breath becoming slower and deeper, with each passing moment carrying you closer to sleep. Notice how your eyelids are getting heavier now, wanting to close completely as drowsiness spreads through your body. With each exhale, you're sinking deeper into your bed, your body growing wonderfully heavy and still. Let your thoughts grow quiet and distant, like stars fading at dawn as sleep draws near. Your body knows exactly what to do. Your mind knows exactly how to rest. Everything is settling into perfect peace, perfect stillness, perfect sleep. I'm Suzanne, and this is your ticket to Snoozeville. Wishing you the deepest, most peaceful sleep. Sleep now. Sleep deeply. Sleep well.