Performing at work with terrible sleep

[Pootlemcsmootle]

Can anyone help me out with advice? I got a respiratory virus recently and for some reason it's knocked my sleep out completely - 3 weeks since it began, sometimes I sleep ok, but often terrible sleep. I have a huge work trip in a couple of days where I'll be majorly in front of clients, partners, etc, and I am panicking I'll make a mess of it on this little sleep. Probably I've got a bit of sleep anxiety now mixed in with the usual nerves over the work trip. However all materials are prepped and I've done this before so am generally confident (or would be if well rested!).

I'd love advice from professionals out there who have struggled with temporary insomnia/really bad sleep and still managed to perform well at work. My schedule calms down a lot when I'm back so will deal with the insomnia or whatever it is then, I just wanted to know if I'm doing more damage psyching myself out that I've not slept, when maybe I could power through? For reference, worst night so far was 3hrs, often 5-6, now and then more (over this last 3 weeks).

Would sleeping pills be a short term solution, or melatonin?

Optimum for me is 9 hours, though I can get by on 8. In bed by 9:30 or so for 6 am wake-up for the morning walk.

I once had a completely sleepless night before a difficult work event - not a wink of sleep. I somehow coped. I remember the marvellous relief of being able to fall into bed the following night.

Strangely that has helped me cope better with routine insomnia and broken nights - I tell myself that any sleep is better than no sleep.

Also agree that adrenaline will kick in. I was chronically sleep deprived while at work due to a sleepless baby, and ended up deciding to accept that I felt shit and ignore it. Then attacked presentations with fake levels of enthusiasm, which actually kicked in a bit in terms of energy levels.

Well the 5-6 wasn't the most terrible part, to be fair, that was an average but it goes down to 3.

But it's a fair comment - so now I hope you're saying I'm over thinking this completely as 5-6 on average isn't too awful? I'm happy to be told I'm over anxious about this - it'll give me confidence that I might actually be fine at work!

Thanks that's encouraging...I'll have a shit load of presentations! I'm literally going to quote your post in my head when I need to this week: 'I feel shit but I'm just going to ignore it' 😁

Six is decent for me. 4 and a half is “this might be tough” and three would be where I’d start to fret.
At five, Yes I’m tired but once I get going it’s fine.
This thread has made me think a lot.