I write this with heavy eyes and can feel that I am slumped in my chair over the laptop. I didn't get enough sleep last night! This time it was my own fault for going to bed too late - It's that time of the year with loads of stuff going on.
But in the past, this feeling would be a daily occurance. It was down to my mind not allowing me to shut down. The constant thoughts buzzing around my head. Thinking of things that happened years ago, things that happened yesterday and things that haven't even happened! Those are the worst, the thoughts of dread that have absolutely no substance to them but we cant control them. Sound familiar? Thankfully, I managed to overcome all of this...
Don't get me wrong, I still have all of the above issues, they are all pretty natural at some point in our lives. But now they are very infrequent and when they do arise, I can nip them in the bud really quickly.
First things first, bedtime...
Have you ever climbed into bed knowing that there are still things that need doing but you are too tired so you leave them for the next day? Don't!
When I feel this way, I give myself 5 minutes to get as much stuff done as i can before I hit the sack. I always make sure that my bedroom is tidy and cosy, that usually helps to have better sleep. Plus that one outstanding task will give you much more peace of mind knowing it's done and you wont keep thinking about it in bed. So in a nutshell, make sure you have done everything you need to before getting into bed. getting back out will just make you grumpy!
Next, meditation.
Yes I know it sound like a load of nonsense to you non-meditation folks! Hear me out...
I used to be one of you too. That stuff is for 'hippies' and is all hallucinogenic etc.
WRONG.
Meditation has quite possibly saved my life. My mental health has improved by an astonishing amount since I started. I am not one for meditation during the day, but sleep meditation is absolutely the one for me. When I first started, I needed to listen every single night. Now, I listen as and when needed, which is around twice per month, just to clear my mind and help me settle into a cozy sleep. Or sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep. I usually listen to Jason Stephenson on YouTube. His guided sleep meditation is fantastic and I am very grateful that he gives this amazing content away for free. It just guides you on how to breathe and what to think about. It really is awesome. Give it a go and see how you get on.
Last but not least, Relax!
It is really easy to become frustrated and annoyed that you can't get to sleep or settle. You can tie yourself up in knots and this can make you even more irritable and make it even more difficult to fall asleep!
Even though you are not asleep, just reassure yourself that you are still resting and getting some downtime. Try to stay in bed and comfortable so your body gets the chance to recuperate.
Don't overthink it. (Understatement of the century right there ha!)
Do you have another method that works for you? I would love to know so please let me know in the comments.
See you next time!
Claire x
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