It’s that time of year again, International Stress Awareness Week. Taking place between the 4th and the 8th of November, this is the one week where we all collectively pretend we’re not stress-eating biscuits behind our laptops, while practising deep breathing exercises we saw on YouTube (or maybe read on one of our articles). But let’s be honest, for most of us, stress awareness isn’t limited to a week. It’s a lifestyle choice. Whether it’s work, relationships, or the soul-crushing fear of our WiFi dropping during a Teams call, stress is the uninvited guest who’s always staying at the inconvenient B&B that is your mind, even when you’re trying to sleep. Pretty pesky…
Ah, sleep. That elusive, beautiful dream that floats just out of reach the moment your head hits the pillow and your brain decides, “You know what? Let’s remind you of every embarrassing thing you’ve ever done, followed by a panic over your retirement plan. Sweet dreams! Or should we say, good luck!”
So, in the spirit of International Stress Awareness Week, let’s get amongst it, and talk about emotional management, stress, and how it hijacks your sleep like a toddler on a sugar high. Buckle up and gold onto your hats, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
stress and sleep: a love-hate relationship
Stress and sleep are like that couple who should have broken up years ago but still insist on clinging onto each other. Stress thrives on chaos, but sleep? Sleep just wants a quiet night in with a warm blanket and a mug of chamomile tea. But every time sleep thinks it’s going to have a peaceful evening, stress kicks down the door like 1980s Jane Fonda forcing you to do her workout VHS tape, yelling, “LET’S GET PHYSICAL!”
Picture this: You’ve had a long day. You’ve survived Karen’s passive-aggressive emails, and what you’re convinced is a daily attempted poisoning by Sheila the cleaning lady. You’ve battled the printer, and avoided setting your kitchen on fire while cooking. You’re exhausted, and deserve a great night’s sleep. You crawl into bed, get all cosy, and just as you’re about to drift off into sweet, sweet unconsciousness, your brain pipes up:
“Hey, remember when you said that thing in a meeting three years ago that was mildly awkward? What was that? Let’s remember what it was in crippling detail, and overthink about it for an hour. That OK with you?”
Cue the sleepless night, where stress becomes the DJ at the party, playing all your least favourite emotional hits: Anxiety Rave Remix, What Did That Text REALLY Mean?, and the ever-popular I Don’t Have My Life Together But I Need To By Tomorrow Morning. BANGING TUNES!
emotional management: easier said than done
International Stress Awareness Week is all about emotional management. “Manage your emotions,” they say, as if that’s something you can just do. Sure, right after we manage to fold a fitted sheet without swearing, I’ll get right on that. Honestly… Some people.
The truth is, managing emotions is like trying to herd kittens; you think you’ve got one sorted, and then three more pop out of nowhere. You calmly navigate a stressful situation at work? Congrats. But wait, why are you suddenly irrationally annoyed by the sound of your neighbour buttering toast too loudly? Oh, and now you’re worried about climate change because of that documentary you half-watched last month. Perfect.
Your emotions are always one step ahead of you, hiding around corners, ready to pounce at the most inconvenient times. It’s like playing an emotional game of Whack-a-Mole, except the moles have mastered the art of guilt, self-doubt, and existential dread. Those poor mole souls.
the bedtime overthinking marathon
Nowhere is this emotional chaos more apparent than when you’re trying to sleep. You can be functioning like a semi-competent adult all day, but the moment your head hits the pillow, your brain transforms into an over-caffeinated motivational speaker. You wanted to sleep? Nope. You’re about to analyse your entire life.
Bedtime is the prime time for your brain to throw in a quick existential crisis. Suddenly, the idea of switching off and relaxing seems about as easy as solving quantum physics while juggling flaming chainsaws. You’ll start with something small—perhaps wondering why you didn’t respond to a WhatsApp message from two days ago. Then, the snowball begins to roll.
Why didn’t you answer that message? Does the person think you’re ignoring them? Are they mad at you? Is your whole friendship in jeopardy? Oh god, do you even have any friends? Maybe that’s why no one’s texting you anymore.
Congratulations! You’ve officially spiralled into a full-blown panic over an emoji you forgot to send. Good luck getting any sleep now.
stress dreams: when your brain decides to get creative
If you thought the overthinking was bad, you just wait, my friend! You just wait… Your brain suddenly decide to get bored and reckons it’s about time to spice up your sleep with stress dreams. You know, those delightful mini-nightmares where you find yourself standing in front of your boss, completely naked, while trying to explain why you missed a deadline, except your boss is also a giant talking banana for no reason. Or for some reason, David Dickinson… Love and hate that dude.
Or how about the dream where your teeth fall out? According to the internet (a reputable source, naturally), this is a common stress dream. Because nothing says “you’ve got unresolved emotional issues” quite like your molars dropping out one by one, while your subconscious whispers, “You should really get that project finished by Friday.” Some people reckon it’s got something to do with money, though how teeth and money are linked is anyone’s guess. Unless you have one of those fancy gold grills, like Tuco Salamanca in Breaking Bad. In which case, you do you boo.
Stress dreams don’t follow logic, and they 100% don’t care about your need for rest. They’re here to disrupt your sleep in the most ridiculous, surreal ways possible. Why resolve your work problems when you can dream about being chased through the office by a giant spreadsheet with fangs? Hm? Ever thought about that?!
the midnight panic attack: nature’s alarm clock
One of the cruellest tricks stress pulls is the midnight panic attack. You’re deep into sleep, enjoying a dream where you’re winning the lottery or flying like a majestic eagle, with Frodo Baggins on your feathery back, when suddenly, BAM! You wake up in a cold sweat, heart racing, convinced you’ve forgotten something important.
You haven’t. Just in case you’re wondering. You’re just awake now, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering why your body decided to do this to you at 3 AM. Maybe it’s because you didn’t respond to that email, or perhaps it’s because you still haven’t sorted out your pension. Either way, sleep is now cancelled, and you’re left scrolling through Instagram, liking photos of people’s dogs and wondering why you can’t just relax. Mainly about why you don’t have a dog, though…
emotional management techniques: the funny way
Now, let’s be real. The internet is full of advice about how to manage your emotions and stress. Breathe deeply. Take a walk. Meditate. Blah blah blah. All lovely ideas, but let’s face it, when you’re in the throes of a full-on stress spiral, sometimes these things feel about as helpful as being handed an umbrella in a hurricane. Or a fire guard made out of last year’s easter egg chocolate.
So, here are some alternative emotional management techniques to try next time you’re lying in bed, contemplating life at 2 AM:
- Embrace the Ridiculousness: Lean into the madness. If your brain is going to get all up in your business with stress dreams about missing your train to a meeting in a building made of cheese, just go with it. Laugh at how ridiculous your subconscious is. It’s like watching a bad soap opera, you know it’s absolutely mental, but somehow you can’t look away.
- Give Your Stress a Silly Name: Personify your stress. Call it “Nigel” or “Brenda.” When you start to feel the pressure rising, just say, “Not now, Brenda. I’m trying to sleep.” It won’t make the stress go away, but it’ll make you feel like you’re in charge of it, even if just for a moment. Plus, do any of us know a Brenda who didn’t deserve a good shouting at? Sorry Brendas of the world…
- Eat the Biscuit: You’re already stressed. Don’t deny yourself the biscuit. Just eat it. Then maybe eat another one. Who cares if it’s 1 AM? Sleep is overrated, but biscuits are eternal.
stress awareness week: a humourous perspective
International Stress Awareness Week might be a time to reflect on how we manage our emotions and deal with the ever-present spectre of stress, like Casper but definitely not friendly, and without Christina Ricci to talk to… Anyway! It’s also a chance to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Because, let’s face it, if we didn’t laugh, we’d probably cry.
So, next time you find yourself wide awake in the middle of the night, thinking about how you accidentally called your teacher “Mum” in Year 9 or why you haven’t written your memoir yet, just remember: you’re not alone. We’re all stressed. We’re all tired. And we’re all just trying to figure out how to get a decent night’s sleep without our brains turning into emotional stand-up comedians.
Happy Stress Awareness Week, everyone. May your sleep be deep, your dreams stress-free, and your emotions somewhat manageable… Brenda willing. Until next time, eve sleep.
