When Your Brain Won’t Switch Off: Colin’s Story of Finding Rest in the Chaos
- The Sleep Fixer
- Nov 7
- 3 min read
Have you ever climbed into bed only for your mind to light up with thoughts?
Suddenly you’re solving tomorrow’s problems, replaying today’s conversations, and wondering how on earth you’ll make it through the week on so little sleep.
If that sounds familiar, you’ll relate to Colin’s story, a C-suite professional in his 50s whose sleepless nights were starting to unravel his days.
The Wired Mind: When Success Steals Sleep
When Colin first came to me, he described bedtime as the moment his brain “switched on.”Despite feeling exhausted, the second his head hit the pillow, his mind began whirring.
Colin’s schedule was relentless.Every minute of his day was accounted for, meetings, decisions, responsibility. He’d get home around 7:30 or 8 p.m., change clothes, make dinner, and try to unwind on the sofa.But really, he wasn’t unwinding.
He’d scroll his phone, half-watch the TV, half-listen to the noise; anything to distract himself from the mental chatter that never stopped. By 10:30 p.m., he’d force himself to bed… only to lie awake until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
Then up again at 6 a.m. to do it all over.
A hamster wheel of stress → poor sleep → more stress → worse sleep.
No Space to Breathe
When we first met, Colin couldn’t remember the last time he’d been happy with his sleep, not even back at university.
He was constantly switched “on.” There was no mental decompression, no moment to exhale. He’d suppress the noise all day and all evening until it erupted at night.
His stress levels?
“A solid 14 out of 10,”
No wonder sleep wasn’t coming easily.
Small Wins First
We couldn’t change the demands of Colin’s job, the meetings, the leadership, the travel but we could change how he moved through his day.
I asked him to look for micro-moments of calm:
Could he block 10–15 minutes at lunch to simply eat — not eat and work?
Could he use his train ride home to transition from work mode to home mode, rather than zoning out or catching up on emails?
Colin liked that idea. He carried a Remarkable tablet and began using it on the commute home to offload his thoughts, everything from work tasks to remembering to buy butter. It became his daily “brain dump,” helping to close the mental tabs that had been left open all day.
And the result?
When he walked through the door, the noise wasn’t so loud anymore.
Redefining Rest
Next, we focused on intentional relaxation. Colin struggled to name anything he did purely for joy. He liked music, so we started there.
Cooking dinner with music on. Watching something he genuinely enjoyed, rather than scrolling aimlessly. Creating an evening that felt alive, not numbing.
Sleep isn’t just about what happens at bedtime, it’s about the lead-up to it.We have to give our nervous system permission to exhale.
Progress, Not Perfection
It wasn’t an overnight fix. In the first two weeks, Colin still struggled, but the nightly “brain dump” began helping. Eventually, he didn’t need to journal again at bedtime; the thoughts had already been released.
What once took three hours to fall asleep now took 30–60 minutes.Not perfect, but progress.
He felt calmer, more in control, most importantly, no longer dreaded bedtime. His energy improved, his focus sharpened, and he described feeling like “a better leader.”
We finished our work together by introducing progressive muscle relaxation, helping him quiet not just his mind, but his body too. It became his nightly ritual, a gentle way to signal to his system, you’re safe to rest now.
Colin’s Takeaways (and Yours)
Sleep doesn’t start at bedtime — it starts with how you manage your day.
Close your open loops. Write them down, voice note them, or plan your next day before bed.
Create micro-moments of calm — during lunch, the commute, or while cooking.
Give your nervous system permission to relax. Gentle music, softer lighting, slower pace.
Start small. Ten minutes of true presence can change everything.
Final Thoughts
Colin’s story is a reminder that rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a leadership skill. When we rest, we remember who we are. We think clearer, decide better, and show up as the best version of ourselves.
So if your mind feels wired when your body feels tired, pause. Take one small step toward quiet.
Your body and your life will thank you for it.
Want help creating your own version of Colin’s calm?
Until next week, sleep well
Kerry, The Sleep Fixer
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