I’m Beth. Or Sleep Coach Beth.
About seven years ago, you would have found me in my dark bedroom, working on a creative project into the wee hours of the morning. I thought I was a night owl getting a few quality work hours, but I was avoiding the inevitable.
When I finally fell into bed, I would spend hours lying there, wide awake, no matter how exhausted. My mind would race with so many things, and as the sun rose, I dragged myself out of bed, longing for my first nap. And then my next nap.
After years of being trapped in a cycle of insomnia, sleep deprivation, and fantasizing about which pieces of furniture at work would make good napping spots, it all changed.
I found an online certification course in sleep coaching, and I took it to improve my sleep, not even thinking of it as a career. After becoming a Certified Sleep Sciences Coach, improving my sleep, and getting rid of my insomnia symptoms, I became passionate about helping others do the same.
Today, I help women make sleep a priority without having to dedicate hours of their lives to self-care & evening routines.
I started The Calm & Cozy Podcast in 2018 and discovered I had a knack for hiding behind a microphone, sharing my knowledge and humour with the world from the comfort of my bed. (Ahem… introvert much!?)
I wasn’t winning awards with my podcast content, but I was consistently told how realistic, honest, and helpful my content was. Another compliment I was hearing was that my voice put listeners to sleep, so I started recording meditation-type episodes and bedtime stories to help listeners relax in bed.
In 2019, I received a private message on Instagram asking if I would like to write a book about sleep. I often receive spam messages from companies wanting me to promote their non-sleep-related products, but this message felt different. A conversation was scheduled, and it was legit, thankfully.
A New York publisher offered me a book deal, and The Calm & Cozy Book of Sleep was published in August of 2020. Two years later, The Calm & Cozy Sleep Kit was released.
Having a book published in the middle of lockdown meant the big release party was held in my living room. My partner Jake and our dog, Bo, attended, and we partied hard, as usual, until 9:30 PM.
Over the years, I have received training and certification in sleep sciences, life coaching, meditation & mindfulness.
I was a graphic design student in college, so I do all of my own website & marketing design.
Still Here? A Little More About Me…
What is my favourite thing about myself? My sense of humour, and my eyes.
Favourite colours? It’s a toss-up between teal and mustard yellow.
What kind of clothes do I like to wear? Kind of classy-creative, with minimalist accessories and jewelry. I also love long layers and cozy clothes that look dressier than they are. (Hint: they should feel like pyjamas.)
What is my favourite food? A ground beef burrito with refried beans, corn, cilantro, and guacamole.
A career I’ve always wanted: Standup comedy.
Current passion: Dance! I take several dance classes during the week, and my favourite dance styles are East Coast swing and West Coast swing. I also teach beginner line dance classes.
A movie I’ll never see? I don’t watch horror movies, ever. I find them so disturbing.
The coolest place I’ve travelled to is Brasov, Romania. Three of my great-grandparents were born in the Romanian countryside. I was privileged enough to spend several months in my late twenties volunteering as a muralist in a children’s hospital in Brasov. Honourable mention goes to the road trip Jake and I (and his kids) took to Cape Breton years ago.
Where do I come from? I was born in Burlington, Ontario, into a family of kind, hilarious, and talented people. My dad was born on the Saskatchewan prairies and was a historian and author of twelve books. (He passed away in 2022 of aggressive brain cancer.) My mom was born in the same small Northern Ontario town as Shania Twain and is a fun, creative woman who taught me that I can reinvent myself at any age. (She recently competed in a Latin dance competition with me at age 70.)
I collect yarn (for crochet projects) and ukuleles!
My dream vehicle is a VW hippie van in apple green.
What is my favourite salad? Caesar salad. I will never get tired of it, and I hope to one day master the perfect Caesar dressing recipe.
Favourite drink? I stopped drinking alcohol two years ago for a few reasons, but I make gin and tonic mocktails at home and always add an offensive amount of lime slices.
The song I currently have on repeat: See The Light by Stephen Sanchez.
A few other places you can find me online…
The Toronto Sun featured advice from my book in their recent article, Building Better Bedtime Routines.
Handling Tomorrow’s Big Day As An Insomniac,
my article for insomnia.sleep-disorders.net
Creating the Perfect Sleep Environment,
My contribution to a Global News article.