Why You Drift But Don’t Drop (and What to Do About It).

Your body wants to sleep — it just doesn’t know how to stay there.

You’re not not sleeping…

You fall asleep — kind of.
Then you wake up. Then drift again. Then wake again.
You ride the surface, but you never quite sink.

And in the morning? You feel foggy, unfinished, or like you’ve lived two nights in one.

This is the Restless River rhythm.

It flows in and out.
It dreams and returns.
It doesn’t resist rest — it just can’t hold it.

This rhythm often shows up during times of transition, emotional processing, or hormonal flux. The body is doing its best — but the nervous system isn’t anchored.

You don’t need deeper sleep.

You need a stronger container.

Rivers need banks.
So do we.

When your rhythm is this fluid, the most helpful thing you can do is add a little structure with softness — nothing rigid, just enough to guide the current.

Signs you’re in a Restless River rhythm:

• You fall asleep but wake multiple times.

• Your dreams feel intense, confusing, or scattered.

• You wake around 3–5 a.m. and can’t fall back asleep.

• You feel “off” or foggy in the mornings.

• You’re going through something emotionally big — or you just were.

Start with something small. Try this:

🌙 1. Wrap yourself.
In a shawl, in your favorite blanket, in stillness. Tell your body it’s safe to be held.

🌿 2. Sip a “night nest” tea.
Oatstraw, lemon balm, or passionflower — soft and slightly sweet.

📖 3. Give your dreams somewhere to go.
Keep a small journal nearby and write a few lines before bed — not to interpret, just to make room.

🫶 4. Let your exhale be longer than your inhale.
Use breath to create a sense of depth and descent. Inhale for 4, exhale for 6.

You’re not a bad sleeper.

You’re a sensitive one. And that’s sacred, too.

📥 Support for softening your rhythm:

→ Download: Rest Nest Rituals & Herbal Tips
→ Inside The Rhythm of Rest: Practices for Restless River Sleepers