The Workplace Sleep Coach

I have just had a brilliant conversation with a new client this morning who has just booked my Enhanced Signature Sleep Reset for January, and after a bit of a deep dive into what their team really needs, we landed on a theme that couldn’t be more timely:

The January Blues.

January is hands down one of the hardest months for people.
The shorter days.
The financial squeeze after Christmas.
The disrupted routines.
The dip in motivation, mood and energy.
And of course, the impact all of this has on sleep.

And when sleep drops, everything else follows.

The CIPD’s latest 2025 Health & Wellbeing report shows that mental ill health is still the number one reason for long-term sickness absence, (41% to be precise) and the second highest reason for short-term absence, with 29% of all short-term absences linked to poor mental health.

So when a business proactively supports sleep and wellbeing in January, it isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’.
It’s smart.
It’s preventative.
It saves money.
And it helps people feel human again.

For this client, I am creating a bespoke January element to the Signature Sleep Reset:
✨ Why January feels so heavy
✨ How finances, stress and disrupted routines impact sleep
✨ What small, realistic steps help people reset their body clock
✨ Practical ways to lift mood, energy and motivation during the hardest month of the year
✨ Tools to improve emotional regulation, resilience and focus at work

This isn’t about New Year pressure.
It’s about supporting people back to themselves.

And because I want this support to reach as far as possible, any business that books a January Sleep Workshop in December can donate my pre-recorded “Parental Rage: Finding Calm in the Chaos” workshop (worth £600) to a charity of their choice.

It’s my way of helping your organisation make a positive impact beyond your own team at a time when families are really struggling.

If you’re a HR lead, wellbeing champion, people director, or you simply know your team needs a boost going into 2026, now is the time to get something in the diary.

January is coming.
Let’s make it a little easier for people.

Drop me a message to book your session.
(And yes, we can tailor the January element to your industry’s specific pressures.)

Sleep is a superpower, especially in the toughest month of the year.

Watching the Budget response yesterday, one thought (of many which I will share over the coming days) kept replaying in my mind:

If any manager behaved like that in a workplace, HR would have been dragged in within 30 seconds.

Mocking.
Shouting.
Performative outrage.
Coordinated jeering.
Talking over.
Belittling.
Voices raised purely to dominate.

(I mean, just look at the people in the photo, it’s sickening).

If two people did that in front of a team, it would be labelled:

😡 bullying
😡 misconduct
😡 harassment
😡 a safeguarding concern in some settings

And yet when it happens in Parliament, we shrug and say:

“Well, that’s politics.”

But should it be?

We talk endlessly about mental health, psychological safety, healthy workplaces, calm communication, trauma awareness, and then our national leaders model the opposite on live television.

It’s madness.

If we want respect, collaboration and emotional intelligence in workplaces, schools and society, it has to start at the top.

Leadership isn’t a pantomime.
And frankly, if Parliament were a business, half of yesterday’s behaviour would have been a disciplinary meeting.

I have quite a few thoughts from yesterday’s budget, so if you are interested, make sure you’re following me.

I can’t let this lie, and a conversation needs to happen as this is not the sort of behaviour we should be saying is acceptable.

What are we teaching our children?

I don’t care what party it is, this isn’t about the party, this type of behaviour is just unacceptable.

We’re heading into the time of year when families hit breaking point.

Christmas is magical for some, but for so many parents it’s a perfect storm of exhaustion, sensory overload, financial pressure, disrupted routines and sleepless nights.

And that’s where parental rage shows up.

Let’s stop pretending it isn’t real.

It is.
I’ve experienced it.

And I’ve seen it across every organisation I’ve worked with, parents who adore their children, but have absolutely nothing left in the tank.

And nobody talks about it.

So here’s what I’m doing for the rest of 2025:

Any business that books a Sleep Talk or Workshop with me throughout the remainder of 2025 will have the pre-recorded workshop “Parental Rage: Finding Calm in the Chaos” donated to a charity of THEIR choice.

No strings.
No hidden costs.
Just genuine support for families who are running on fumes.

This is a £600 resource, and donating it means:

* More parents get the support they desperately need

* Families heading into Christmas aren’t left to cope alone

* Workplaces get better-rested, more regulated, more productive
employees

* Businesses can make a meaningful impact in their community when it’s needed most

It’s a win for everyone.

Sleep deprivation is tearing through wellbeing, relationships, performance and emotional regulation.

And parental rage?

It’s what happens when a tired brain reaches the end of what it can hold.

Nobody talks about it.
So I will.

Because ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear, it just leaves parents isolated, ashamed, and feeling like they’re the only ones going through it.

And about the word “Rage”…
Yes, some companies have asked me to soften it.

But every single person who has experienced it says the same thing:
Rage is exactly what it is.

So let’s call a spade a spade, rather than packaging it in something fluffy.

If your organisation wants to support your employees and give something truly meaningful to families who need help this Christmas, get in touch.

Book anytime in 2025, deliver whenever works for you, this year or next.

Let’s make this season easier for the parents who are barely keeping it together.

DMs open.

Fantastic day sharing how to sleep well at Kidderminster College yesterday.

I absolutely hate having my photo taken (I know you probably think differently as I am always on here, but I really hate it), but I absolutely LOVE this photo of me laughing.

Thank you John Cleary for capturing this moment.

This was at the Who awards hosted by Sandra Garlick MBE where I was a finalist in the Solopreneaur awards, and walked away with the title, 'One to Watch'.

I am beyond thrilled at this accolade because it means the work I am doing for parents, in workplaces, and around sleep education is being heard, and not just that, but taken seriously.

Here's what the judges said:
"Nicole was the judges' clear winner for a One to Watch award, and they are excited to see how she builds on the amazing foundations she has built. She’s definitely changing the world, and we can’t wait to see what she does next."

So, on that note, I want to share an offer that will run for the rest of October.

This is for all the businesses that want to make a difference to the lives of their employees, while also helping their own business thrive at the same time.

If you book any of my sleep sessions in October to be delivered in 2025, this is what I will do:

Donate the Parental Rage: Finding calm in the Chaos pre-recorded workshop to a charity of your choice. This is worth £600.

You will also get 10% discount off all my brochure prices, and I will pop the brochure link in the comments for you, or check out my bio.

As this is my first proper year trading, I am not yet VAT registered, but next year this will change, so right now, you will also save the 20% VAT by booking me this year.

You can help so many people by working with me, and in my brochure you can read some of the testimonials from previous clients.

Someone recently said I have a very engaging style. I didn't even know I had a style. I just talk like I am sat round the kitchen table with people having a real conversation, so if this is a style that resonates with you, and will reach your employees, then lets chat, because the nights are getting darker fast, it's getting colder, and peoples mental health naturally starts to decline, especially as the Christmas overwhelm starts to hit, so now is the time to reach them to help them in advance.

I am hugely proud of what I have achieved this year, and especially under some of the darkest of circumstances, but I am here, I am standing, and I am making a difference.

Do you want me to help you make a difference too?

There is still time to fit the 'Sleeptember Reset: Sleep Smarter, Live Better' webinar in for your employees during September, but you’ll need to be quick.

There are only 11 more working days until Sleep Awareness month is over.

That isn’t excuse to stop talking about sleep, September is just the beginning, and it moves into Mental Health Awareness month where sleep should feature heavily in the conversation.

It's the tip of the iceberg to get the conversation started, but it has to start.

How do you know how many people in your business are struggling with sleep until you bring the topic to them.

They aren't to walk into your office and tell you they aren't safe to do their job, or that they keep making mistakes because they are exhausted, or that they aren't hitting targets because they aren't sleeping as work is stressing them out so much.

What would you even do if they did tell you this? What support do you have in place?

I did speak up in my old job, and I was told to go home or crack on. They wouldn't have known how to support me, so they were the only options in their thought pattern.

Check out this testimonial from Rachel Hazelhurst at Dentons Law Practice where I ran the Sleeptember session last week:

'As a law firm, many of our colleagues work in high-pressure, demanding roles, which can make it difficult to truly switch off. Booking a session with Nicole today to talk about sleep was an excellent decision. She shared valuable insights that many of us wouldn’t have otherwise known, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Colleagues are already discussing practical changes they plan to make in their daily routines to improve their sleep — which is fantastic to see. Nicole’s talk was clear, engaging, and interactive. I’d highly recommend her session to any organisation looking to support staff wellbeing.'

The people who book me are always surprised at how many people turn up to my sessions.

I’m not.

When 1 in 3 people are struggling with sleep and we are in the middle of a sleep epidemic, everyone wants to know how to get better sleep.

Sleep is one of the most inclusive topics you could cover, and it impacts mental health, productivity, relationships, problem solving, physical health, obesity and so much more.

Start the sleep conversation today and let’s squeeze in a session before the month is out.

If you can't fit it into September, make sure it is part of your October mental health support.

Sleep is the root of the tree, and it needs to be watered for all the branches on the tree to flourish, so please lets move the 97% of businesses who DON'T include sleep as part of their wellbeing strategy to 96%. It might only be a 1% shift, but its a shift in the right direction.

❤️ This is such a lovely testimonial off the back of the Sleep Webinar I have just ran today for Dentons Law Practice.

If you are following me, and have done for a while, you know just how important it is to me to truly create an impact and make positive change in peoples lives.

I learnt a few years ago that I wasn't going to make the impact I wanted by helping one person at a time, which is why I moved into corporate, so I could make changes to so many peoples lives, and on this journey, I decided that I wanted to change the whole culture in the workplace around sleep.

So this is what I am doing, and I absolutely love it.

From warehouse staff, to call centres, to construction teams, and even lawyers. Everyone deserves to be able to sleep well.

1 in 3 people are sleep deprived, we are in the middle of a sleep epidemic, but 1 in 3 people are not struggling with sleep due to a medical condition. The majority are struggling due to life being so busy, we have forgotten how to prioritise sleep, and are now suffering the consequences.

September is Sleep Awareness Month, also known as Sleeptember, and I am running the session I ran today thoughout September for just £500: Sleeptember Reset, Sleep Smarter, Live Better, and I have some last minute availability if you would like to grab a session with me.

Don't just take my word for it. This testimonial says it all.

'As a law firm, many of our colleagues work in high-pressure, demanding roles, which can make it difficult to truly switch off. Booking a session with Nicole today to talk about sleep was an excellent decision. She shared valuable insights that many of us wouldn’t have otherwise known, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Colleagues are already discussing practical changes they plan to make in their daily routines to improve their sleep — which is fantastic to see. Nicole’s talk was clear, engaging, and interactive. I’d highly recommend her session to any organisation looking to support staff wellbeing.'

When you returned to work after having a baby, did it feel like you were expected to pick up exactly where you left off?

Same workload. Same pace. Same expectations.
Only now you’re running on broken sleep, second-guessing yourself, battling guilt, and trying to hold on to your sense of identity.

Let’s be honest, there’s not enough support for parents returning to work. Not nearly enough.

I’ve spoken to hundreds, probably thousands, of mums and dads who wanted to do their jobs well.
They didn’t want special treatment, they just wanted understanding. Flexibility. Less judgement. Less martyrdom. More humanity.

They wanted to thrive, not just survive.

If you’ve ever felt that too, I’m asking for a small favour.

👉 I run Baby2Sleep and The Workplace Sleep Coach, and I help businesses to better support parents when they return to work, from sleep and burnout to boundaries, performance and equity, and I would love to get my brochure in front of as many HR, People and Wellbeing leads as possible.

If you read it and think “yes, this is what’s missing”, would you feel comfortable forwarding it to your HR lead, wellbeing team or line manager?

It’s a quiet act that could lead to big change, for you, and for the parents who come next.

Drop me a message or a comment if you’d like me to send you the brochure. 💛
I would love your help to build workplaces that actually work for parents.

How does this make you feel, because it makes me feel a little sick to the stomach.

Earlier this year, we surveyed 1120 people who had become parents in the last 7 years.

Of those surveyed, 79% of mums said they struggled with their mental health after having a baby, and 51% of dads said the same.

Hang on, when we look at the statistics that are in the public domain, it suggests 1 in 5 mums and 1 in 10 dads struggle, but I am seeing 4 in 5 mums and 1 in 2 dads here.

That is a huge difference.

Maybe you are thinking that we targeted people with pre-existing mental health conditions, because those figures are beyond frightening.

Well, it turns out that 53% of mums and 65% of dads who have admitted they struggled with their mental health had no previous mental health issue.

So over half of the new mums and two thirds of new dads who struggled with their mental health HAD NO PRE-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION!

So why are these figures so high?

Well, the research was looking at the rise in maternal and paternal depression to see if sleep deprivation was playing a part, and it looks like the parents agree.

65% of mums and 54% of dads said that access to SLEEP EDUCATION BEFORE the BIRTH WOULD have helped their sleep and mental wellbeing. This isn't just based on the the people who struggled, this is off the full 1120.

Are you seeing the link?

I know I am.

Keir Starmer has said that sleep education is part of his 10 year NHS plan.

He has said he wants to give children the best start in life.

He wants to support parents.

Do you think that improving the antenatal education, and midwives and health visitors being educated on sleep to support their new and expectant parents would be a start?

Do you think workplaces promoting equitable parenting and the Government offering liveable maternity AND paternity leave would be helpful?

Do you think sleep education as a whole should be mandatory in the workplace and the conversation around sleep and the impact of poor sleep should be more open?

It is time to call time on the competition of who had the worst nights sleep, and start calling it out.

Sleep is a fundamental basic human right and need, it's not a luxury, yet 1 in 3 people are struggling to sleep well.

We're in the middle of a global sleep epidemic and it isn't slowing down anytime soon.

If companies like Oscar Kilo UK and Hilti Group can see this and are working with me to make the changes needed to support and educate their expectant parents, then why can't the NHS and the Government.

The Government are a long way off making these changes happen, so if your company can see the issue and wants to be ahead of the game and be known as top employer that supports parents and people in general, lets chat.

Today I literally gave myself a lecture. 😂 It is amazing how much information we have in our heads, that sometimes it is really easy to forget we already have the answers.

I had just been speaking to a potential client about providing my online courses for their parents and expectant parents in their business, and I suggested sending over a video from each of the courses so they could review them and decide if they can get the budget together to purchase for all their employees with children aged 6 and under.

I then had to decide which videos to send, and I won’t lie, it has been a long time since I have watched my work. The courses have been accessible for years and they just exist now, so I don’t tend to go back and watch what I did then as I am constantly developing new things.

I got a nice surprise when I watched this one, and I thought I would share it with you. I’ll pop the link in the comments, but if you can’t find it, drop me a message and I’ll fire it over as it isn’t a public video.

Parenting is tough, and sometimes we do just need a little reminder on how to slow down and communicate with our children because the rat race of life isn’t getting any slower.

I got that reminder today, from myself.

I have to admit, it is quite strange listening and learning from myself, but it has made me think that we possibly all need to step back sometimes and look back over what we have done before, as it really is the foundation and part of the building blocks that have got us to where we are today.

If you have children, you might also find this video a helpful refresher, so please do have a watch. This is taken from my Toddler2Child Sleep and Behaviour course for parents of children between 20 months and 6 years old.

If you are in the business looking at ways to support your working parents, then you may like what I offer and wish to have a chat, so just let me know.

Tell me, what work have you gone back to that you have done before and it has given you clarity on the work you do today?