Why can’t I get to sleep?

You didn’t manage to finish your to do list today, you haven’t made the kids packed lunches yet and you know you won’t get round to helping your sister with her job application. You feel:

All questions are required

Drained. You decide to watch your favourite TV show to escape reality for a bit.
Overwhelmed. There isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done and you are tired of feeling behind, so you pour a glass of wine to try and relax.
Agitated. You’ve been sitting all day so you try to squeeze in a jog before running around all night trying to get everything else done.

You are in bed, but before you turn off the light or pick up your book you:

All questions are required

Browse the web on your tablet, check Facebook one more time and set your alarm.
Check your diary to make sure you know exactly what’s on tomorrow.
Do a few sit-ups – you didn't manage to do enough exercise today.

At the weekend, you find you sleep a little easier. This is because:

All questions are required

You spent the night out with friends chatting; you haven’t had such a great night in ages.
You haven’t got so many commitments tomorrow, although saying that, there is the yoga class you signed up to, and the kids swimming lessons. Plus you said you would help your friend move house… better get to sleep soon.
You went for a long walk before lunch. There’s nothing better than feeling truly physically tired, knowing you have earned your rest.

‘I thought becoming a mum meant my sex life was over — then I learned what was really getting in the way’

Is becoming a mother incompatible with having a good sex life? We spoke to Sarah Forbes, author of Mama Sex: How a Perfect Storm Created a Revolution, about the challenges mothers face when it comes to keeping intimacy alive. Words: Amy Mica Marsden. Images: Shutterstock It’s a refrain heard time and time again throughout history: […]

Amy Mica Marsden

22 July 202620 July 2026

‘I thought becoming a mum meant my sex life was over — then I learned what was really getting in the way’

Creative hobbies / Self

Trying to fit too much in? Why summer overwhelm can hit so hard — and how to enjoy the season more

Summer can begin as a neat little pile of possibilities: a weekend away, a birthday picnic, a swim in the sea. But somehow, by the time you’ve tried to fit everything in, it resembles an overpacked suitcase. What often falls out first are the things you were hoping to keep hold of — rest, slowness […]

Sally Saunders

15 July 202610 July 2026

Trying to fit too much in? Why summer overwhelm can hit so hard — and how to enjoy the season more

Self

Am I having a midlife crisis? Why it happens and how to reconnect with yourself

Flooded with feelings of resentment, frustration and an inner longing for something new? Here’s what’s really happening.

Lily Smith

13 July 202610 July 2026

Am I having a midlife crisis? Why it happens and how to reconnect with yourself

Six friendship red flags psychologists say you shouldn’t ignore

Friendships bring immense joy, but they also come with their own set of challenges. Here, Caroline Butterwick helps us deal with our differences and save our friendships (or let them go).

Psychologies

22 July 202410 July 2026

Family & parenting

Free online event: ADHD in children – what to look for and what to do next

The Oxford ADHD & Autism Centre is hosting a free online webinar for parents and carers who want practical, straightforward information about ADHD in children.

Psychologies

9 July 202610 July 2026

Love life / Family & parenting / Friendships

How to disagree without damaging your relationship: 7 conflict lessons from a peace negotiator

Whether you’re arguing about politics, parenting or money, conflict doesn’t have to end in disconnection. After decades mediating everyone from couples in crisis to parties in international conflict, Gabrielle Rifkind shares seven practical ways to have difficult conversations without making them worse. Most of us don’t struggle to agree. We struggle to disagree. Whether the […]

Sally Saunders

20 July 202617 July 2026

Pain and stiffness are not normal parts of ageing – here are 10 ways to improve your mobility, according to a physiotherapist

Don’t let pain shrink your life – here’s how to stay strong, mobile and pain-free as you age.

Lily Smith

16 July 202615 July 2026

Career

6 signs you’ve tied your entire self-worth to your career – and how to break free

Here’s how to reconnect with who you are outside of your job, achievements and ambitions.

Lily Smith

21 June 202619 June 2026

Family & parenting

People ask me what it’s like to parent a child with ADHD — this is what I tell them

Parenting a child with ADHD or other special educational needs is often a journey filled with self-doubt and isolation. But Olivia Kessel and her daughter’s story shows how understanding the reality of your situation can lead to powerful transformation. “I just wanted her to get dressed without a meltdown,” Dr Olivia Kessel reflects, looking back […]

Sally Saunders

16 July 202615 July 2026

Show all tests

Personality Test

You didn’t manage to finish your to do list today, you haven’t made the kids packed lunches yet and you know you won’t get round to helping your sister with her job application. You feel:

You are in bed, but before you turn off the light or pick up your book you:

At the weekend, you find you sleep a little easier. This is because:

Share this:

Related content