Beth Wyatt - The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep

In my late thirties, I was searching the internet for a certification program, when I caught a glimpse of a course in sleep sciences. I had no interest in being a sleep sciences coach at the time; I just wanted to take the course to improve my own sleep. I pulled out my credit card, made the purchase, and spent the next three days watching interviews with sleep doctors, reading slides, and making notes. I left the spot on the mattress only to eat and empty my bladder. By the end of the weekend, I had passed the final exam and earned my sleep sciences certification, making me a certified sleep coach.

The most exciting part was not the certification; it was educating myself about sleep. I found the whole thing fascinating. I had learned about all the ways sleep could improve my health and my life, and what happens in our bodies while we sleep. I finally had an appreciation for something I had been purposely avoiding for decades. I was intrigued and wanted to get to work on fixing my sleep as soon as possible, and then I couldnt wait to help others fix theirs.

When I first introduced myself to the online wellness world in summer 2017, I was one of a very small community who focused solely on sleep. Among my business-coaching group of thousands, I was the one and only sleep professional in a sea of personal trainers, dieticians, and weight-loss coaches. Finding clients was easy because I had no competition, and potential clients were asking for help before I felt ready to coach.

Working with women who struggle with insomnia symptoms quickly became my specialty because it hit so close to home. While I was ready to jump into creating multistep evening rituals with clients, they were marveling at the simple, but powerful, truths that I often took for granted. The idea that a client could lie in bed and focus on rest instead of sleep was said to be life changing. A woman who fought her own negative thoughts night after night felt such freedom after being told her thoughts had no control over her. It was a relief to learn that so many women who suffered from insomnia symptoms and bedtime anxiety didnt need me to give them medical advice (which is a good thing because Im not a doctor). They needed help relieving stress, dealing with their own negative thought patterns, and perfecting the small sleep habits we often overlook.

I started The Calm & Cozy Podcast the following winter and used my platform to share everything I had learned. I told stories about my experiences, offered tips and product reviews, and thrived in a medium that let me use my unique voice to connect with others without ever having to leave the house.

One of the surprising side effects of working with others on improving their sleep is the vast improvements in my own. Paying attention to everyone elses sleep habits has magnified my own habits and practices, and the people in my life are looking to me to be an example.

Every evening when I start yawning, I prepare for bed instead of fighting it. I happily go to bed at a time other people would consider early. I nestle into my bed and smile. I drift off to sleep without a struggle between my brain and the rest of my body. I intentionally wake up before anyone else in my house, and after I get out of bed, I open the curtains, letting the sun stream into my bedroom. I say cheesy things like What a beautiful morning! and I spend the first hours of my day moving my body, working on fun projects, and enjoying my time alone. Morning has become my favorite part of every day. Being a night owl no longer serves its purpose, and I realize now that it never really did.