Sleep Like You Mean It

Why Prioritizing Sleep Changed Everything for Me (By Alaya Founder, Shauna Reiter)

Get Shauna’s free sleep guide — a chapter from her book You Are the Boss of You.

You can purchase the full book, You Are The Boss Of You, here.

Why is it that so many of us struggle with sleep? 

For starters, we live in a world that values going and doing versus being and receiving. On numerous occasions, colleagues and friends have broadcasted their lack of sleep only to be applauded for being busy and “ambitious.” This notion that in order to be productive we have to be sleep-deprived gets reinforced over and over every time we stretch ourselves too thin and receive positive feedback. 

Additionally, our society is deeply out of touch with the rhythms of nature and many of us are addicted to devices and rely on synthetic lights that affect our circadian rhythm, which is our body’s internal clock.

My passion for healthy sleep hygiene stems from a history of not knowing how to fall asleep and experiencing the damaging effects of sleep deprivation on my well-being. For the first three decades of my life, I used to struggle with letting go at night which made me hypervigilant and unable to sleep. 

For some, the cause of sleep deprivation is a time management issue and for others it’s stress, hormones, physical ailments, or the desire to decompress at night. Whether you’re not sleeping enough because of emotional, psychological, or physical struggles, or simply because you’re not prioritizing sleep, I know one thing is true: Sleep is an essential ingredient of good health.

Every person needs a different amount of sleep, and that amount may change over time. People can’t believe it when I tell them I don’t set an alarm, but truly, I don’t! That’s because I’ve created a rhythm for my sleep/wake cycle that ensures that I get into bed early enough to wake up naturally. If for any reason I don’t sleep enough or the quality of my sleep is poor, I immediately notice the effects- less energy and flow and more moodiness and indecision. The benefits of sleep are wide-reaching and profound, but many of us have gotten used to feeling icky and not functioning optimally. Because we are creatures of habit, we need to consciously break the cycles that keep us from getting proper rest.

We’ve normalized exhaustion and underperformance, but the truth is: When your body has what it needs, it knows what to do. That’s not just true for energy, digestion, or immunity -it applies to sleep, too.

That’s part of the reason I created Alaya’s Organic Green Superblend - not as a sleep supplement, but as a daily tool to help your body function at its best. When you flood your system with nutrient-dense greens, adaptogens, and antioxidants, you’re giving it the building blocks it needs to support the processes that regulate rest and recovery.

Here’s how that can support deeper, more restorative sleep:

• Less stress = deeper rest

  Adaptogens like ashwagandha, reishi, and chaga help calm the body’s stress response, making it easier to wind down at night.

• Balanced blood sugar = fewer nighttime wakeups

  Fiber and stabilizing nutrients from greens support more even blood sugar throughout the day — which plays a critical role in uninterrupted sleep.

• Proper detoxification = more restful nights

  A nourished liver and digestive system help your body move through its natural overnight detox cycles, so you wake up feeling more refreshed.

• More micronutrients = better hormonal balance

  When your body gets enough magnesium, B vitamins, and antioxidants, it can better regulate melatonin and cortisol — two key players in your circadian rhythm.

For me, knowing WHY sleep is so important is key to helping me prioritize it. So let’s talk about why sleep should be considered as important as what we put into our bodies:

• Sleep is its own brand of nutrition. It helps manage your stress and mood by regulating the production of hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

• Sleep is a non-negotiable in the areas of memory consolidation, attention, and cognitive performance.

• Sleep supports decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.

• Sleep is essential to metabolizing and integrating emotions.  

• Sleep is when the body detoxes, heals, repairs, and restores.

• Sleep allows the brain to sift through and consolidate new information.

• Sleep is when neural connections are strengthened.

• Sleep is a sacred time for rest and replenishment.

I could go on and on about the benefits of sleep, but what we now know is that sleep deficits contribute to occasional, minor anxiety, stress, and a whole range of mental health issues. While our society may shout at us to stay busy and never stop moving, consider how much more fruitful everything you do will be when you slow down and value sleep. Just as you wouldn’t lift weights for hours and hours without resting, our bodies require a pause at night to heal. And no matter what you put into your body or what health regimens you’re dedicated to, if your sleep is compromised, your body won’t receive the full benefits.

I created Alaya Naturals because I know that what you consume is paramount to healthy living. But I also know that there is a time for action and a time to be still and receive. The body is a miracle and it is working every minute to protect and support you. Treat it like the genius it is by turning your phone off an hour early tonight, crawling into bed, and giving yourself the gift of rest. You deserve it. And your body, spirit, and mind will thank you.

Shauna Reiter, Alaya Naturals Founder