As a forest therapy guide and mind-body coach, Sarah’s mission is to help people feel better, while remember their connection to the Earth and each other. She guides and supports people recovering from chronic illness and pain, and anyone looking for stress relief and more meaning and connection. She meets with people in parks and forest preserves throughout Chicagoland, as well as over Zoom – both in groups and one-on-one.
Drawing from her own experience recovering from chronic illness and pain is an important part of her practice, in addition to years of training in different modalities like Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Inner Relationship Focusing, Holistic Life Coaching, and Nature and Forest Therapy. She has a BA in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sociology and Anthropology, and spent the first part of her career working in the environmental field.
Sarah lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband, two teenage kids, and rescue pug-hound.
What is your bedtime ritual?
Much of this goes against what the sleep experts advise, but this is what works for me after many years of trial and error! I start with a decent-sized snack (mostly carbs TBH) and a hot cup of chamomile tea while watching some comfort TV. Then I brush my teeth and read a light fiction book in bed (on my phone, TBH) until I fall asleep. Maybe someday I’ll be able to meditate myself to sleep, after doing some light stretches by candlelight, but for now, this is what works!
What do you do during the day that has the biggest impact (positive or negative) on your sleep?
If I can do these three things during the day, I’m much more likely to be able to fall asleep easily:
1. spending time outside.
2. being physically active throughout the day (dog walks, household chores, some weights, and stretching or yoga)
3. checking in with myself throughout the day to make sure I’m being gentle with myself and not letting my inner critic or people pleaser run the show. I do this with different somatic or body-oriented practices and by tending a relationship, over time, with all those parts of me that I used to shove down or harshly judge or argue with that would keep my head spinning and body agitated into the wee hours.
In the last 5 years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your sleep?
The biggest thing that has helped me in improving my sleep (and lots of my life) is learning to trust myself. I used to low-key (or subconsciously) feel guilty if I did some of the “bad” activities before bed, like watching TV (blue light!!!) or having a big snack (food disrupts your sleep!!!), but now I know it’s important to listen to my own instincts and do what works for me, even if it goes against what some experts say. I used to use pharmaceuticals or herbs to help me sleep, but it turns out trusting myself is the best drug (aka nervous system soother).
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Sarah Abu-Absi
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