I'm Only Sleeping
Advice to help you sleep that you might not have heard, and an audio recording to help you drift off
Hello there.
I bet you have a lot on your mind. And it might be hard to fall asleep with all those thoughts.
Earlier this week, I was at one of those coffee shops where the tables are close together, and I overheard the people next to me comparing the supplements/gummies/prescriptions they use before bed. They went into great detail and I was rather surprised by the things they had tried, and the descriptions of waking up too groggy or jittery.
We’ve all had nights when we are sleeplessly tossing and turning, but when it becomes a nightly frustration that’s another issue.
When we don’t sleep well, our mental health can suffer. We get cranky. Our tempers are shorter. It can get ugly fast. It’s harder to think clearly when we’re tired, so we may not be as productive the next day, and then we fret about all the things we have left undone. That keeps us up thinking instead of sleeping, and so the cycle continues.
I also find that when the body slows down, the mind can get active. Knowing this, having a sleep routine is critical. There are lots of resources to help you set the stage for bedtime so I won’t go into great detail, but start to wind down an hour or so before you sleep. Reading before bed (or another relaxing activity) can help take your mind off of your worries. Make sure your room is as dark as possible. Cold temperatures are better. Turn your phone on do not disturb and don’t check it if you wake up in the night.
When I am awake with things on my mind, I remind myself that if I can rest, I will be better equipped to deal with any issues I am facing in the morning. For me, that makes it easier to let those thoughts fade away. If you are struggling to fall asleep though, accept that fact. Don’t fight it because that’s when things get really difficult. Remember, your body knows how to sleep. Let it. As weird as this sounds, pretend you are actually asleep. You may have done this as a child. Copy the postures that you would be in if you were already sleeping, in fact, exaggerate them. Get in your favorite sleeping shape. Slow and deepen your breath, maybe even make it audible. Relax and untense. Let yourself feel heavy. Sink in. Trust me. It works. And of course, you can listen to the audio recording below.
Also, a reminder, paid subscribers have full access to all past posts and meditations. There is even a search bar on the home page to help you find exactly what you are looking for. There are more tips and audio recordings to help you sleep. Because help with sleep is one of the most common requests I get, I’m offering this week’s audio to all subscribers. If it helps, let me know, and better yet, share it with a friend.
Relax Into Sleep
Thanks for being here!
Your friend,
Page