The One Where I Learned to Sleep With Chronic Illness (No Meds Involved)
- Yew and Me
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 10
Sleep, once overlooked, has become one of the key foundations of my healing journey.
For a long time, I thought sleep was supposed to be simple. You go to bed, you sleep, you wake up refreshed. Easy, right?
Except that wasn’t how it worked for me when I became ill. I found I could sleep for 12 hours straight but would wake up still feeling exhausted. It was like plugging in a mobile phone to charge overnight, but always starting with far less than 100% battery in the morning.
Other nights I could fall into bed more exhausted than I ever thought possible, only for my brain to light up like Blackpool Illuminations the moment my head hit the pillow. This feeling of being tired, but wired, I’ve often heard termed twired. A feeling I think we’ve all experienced at some time or another - exhausted, but our brain is wide awake and active, leaving sleep as elusive as a needle in a haystack!
Over the years of living with chronic fatigue, sleep has been both a lifeline and a mystery. I needed it so badly - but it never seemed to do what it was supposed to.
Eventually, I realised I couldn’t just hope for better sleep—I had to work on it deliberately. It wasn’t about sleeping more, but sleeping better. And over time, with plenty of trial and error, I discovered what actually helped me to feel better rested again.
The Cornerstones of Health
Sleep is just one of the areas I’ve been working on as I rebuild my health and energy. I often think of sleep (& rest), nutrition, movement, and mindfulness as the four cornerstones of my health. They hold everything else up.
But sleep was the one I underestimated the most. And as I started paying more attention to it - when I sleep, how I prepare for bed, how I wake up, what I eat and do throughout the day - I started to see real, tangible changes. This is when sleep became a cornerstone of my healing journey.
A Sleep Improvement Mini-Series (That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously)
Over a few blog posts, I’m sharing what’s helped me move from restless nights and groggy mornings to something much more sustainable. These aren’t medications, supplements, or miracle cures — and they’re definitely not rigid rules. They’re small shifts I’ve made, one step at a time, tested on my real life, and kept because they actually help.
I’m not perfect — no one is — so I don’t stick to everything all the time. I’m only human, and I aim for most of the time. Aiming for all of the time just isn’t realistic or achievable for most of us.
Coming Up in This Mini-Series
(Links will be added as each post goes live)
💤 The One Where I Took Sleep Hygiene Seriously (And It Helped)
⏰ The One Where A Consistent Sleep Schedule Became My Superpower
🌞 The One Where I Catch Daylight and Ditch Screens for Better Sleep
🛋️ The One About How Napping Improved My Energy and Sleep
🍷 The One Where I Thought I Slept Well After Wine — Until My Heart Rate Told the Truth
⌚ The One Where Fitbit Helped Me Understand My Sleep Quality Better
🛌 The One Where I Realised What Made All the Difference for My Sleep
Whether you’re struggling with sleep, dealing with fatigue, or just curious to see what’s helped someone else—it’s all here, honestly told.
Let’s Talk About Sleep
Have you ever gone through a period where sleep just … wasn’t working? Or have you found little rituals that help you switch off and get the rest you need? I’d love to know.
👇🏻 Drop a comment, or just read along quietly. Either way, I hope you find something useful in what’s to come.
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