You might have already made sure your bedroom is a peaceful sanctuary. Maybe you’ve tweaked your exercise routine to help you feel tired at the end of your day. It can be a very frustrating feeling knowing that you’ve done all you can to get the best sleep possible, but still it eludes you. Here’s some tips that might help you get to sleep.
- Take the focus off sleep. Meditation or listening to soothing music can help you relax and drift off into slumber. You can find a style to suit you on apps like Calm and Headspace, or free tracks and playlists on YouTube and Spotify.
- Breathe. Try a breathing exercise as a way to unwind and get you in the zone for sleep. Breathe in for a count of 2, out for a count of 4, then in for 3, out for 5. Carry on increasing until you reach your max then stay breathing at that rate for a few minutes, or until sleep finds you.
- Let go of any anger or frustration you might be feeling about being awake. Repeating a simple mantra can help some people, like ‘Calm mind, relaxed body’, or mentall scan your body looking for tension, releasing any as you go from your toes right up to the top of your head.
- Write it down. Keep a journal of your sleep for a week or so and see if it helps you identify any changes you can make. It might be that you discover that going to bed half an hour earlier helps you fall asleep more easily, or that skipping that after dinner coffee is a good thing.
Find what works for you and you’ll find a way to reap the benefits of sleep, glorious sleep.
