Professional Women Too Stressed to Sleep
I was not surprised to see an article in The New York Times regarding the prevalence of insomnia among working mothers.
Last week, I attended a dinner of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) General Counsel Institute. At the dinner table, I enjoyed interesting conversation with some accomplished women. We shared anecdotes of work, work-related travel, children, homework, and sleep – or, more accurately, our lack of sleep.
Women lawyers are often skilled multitaskers, driven to succeed at work and in their personal lives. Along with the responsibilities of the multiple roles of professional, spouse, and mother (and perhaps caregiver, volunteer, and friend, too), comes stress. Difficulty sleeping is a natural but unfortunate consequence of stress. According to a study cited in the article, 80 percent of women reported “being just too stressed or worried to turn out the proverbial lights.” The irresistible urge to check BlackBerry devices and iPhones before bedtime makes it even more difficult to wind down and fall asleep. (I’m certain that I am not the only one who pretends that I will rest better if I am sure that I have seen every email that may have arrived during the evening hours.) Waking at 3 or 4 a.m. with worries about the day ahead is also common.
Many women are resorting to prescription and over-the-counter treatments for their insomnia. “Nearly 3 in 10 American women fess up to using some kind of sleep aid at least a few nights a week,” The New York Times stated. Among 40 to 59 year olds, twice the number of women than men use prescription sleep aids.
Are professional women destined to a sleepless fate in this hyper-connected, 24/7 world? Are we sufficiently motivated to find solutions apart from pharmaceuticals or wine? The first step may be prioritizing our own well-being, and recognizing that we will be better able to respond to the stresses of the day if we get a good night’s sleep.
