If you struggle with falling asleep, or staying asleep, you could probably write an article on insomnia. But I’ll save you the trouble. I know you’re tired.
If you are a good sleeper don’t take it for granted. If you follow these guidelines below, you could find yourself among the millions who struggle.
Here are seven surefire ways to have insomnia.
- Go about each day ignoring your problems and/or burying your emotions instead of acknowledging and managing them.
- Think about your regrets, worries, or your to-do list as you lay down to sleep.
- Fill your schedule. Don’t take any time to relax or unwind, especially not before bed.
- Work, check your email, watch TV, or play with your phone before bed.
- Don’t exercise or do anything else to let off steam.
- Believe that you should always do more. You, or what you do, are never good enough.
- Develop anxiety about not sleeping.
A lot of strategies for improving sleep are oriented to learning to relax. That’s the right idea. Difficulty sleeping is often about difficulty letting go – shutting off.
Remember that the subconscious mind remembers EVERYTHING! Just because you’re not thinking about something consciously it’s still there, potentially bubbling beneath the surface until you deal with it.
If relaxation techniques aren’t working you might ask, “What do I need to let go or make peace with?” It might be something recent or an event from long ago. How long have you had difficulty sleeping?
Lack of sleep is at the root of many physical, mental and emotional health issues, including weight gain. If you improve your sleep you can potentially improve many other aspects of your life.
Here are seven ideas to increase relaxation and enhance sleep.
- Practice healthy coping strategies to offset your stress, including: exercising earlier in the day, meditating, having hobbies and having fun.
- Record all your concerns, or to-dos, on paper each night. This is a way to get them ceremoniously out of you, where they will rest safely until morning – just like you.
- Be oriented to the present, where there are no problems, so consequently nothing to worry about. Focusing on your breathing is a great way to be present and in your body.
- Don’t get anxious, frustrated or angry before falling asleep, or if you wake. Try to remove any pressure to fall asleep. Think wholesome thoughts. Focus on the comfort of your bed, how it supports you. Centre yourself in safety, peace and love. Ask for support from your higher self, or a source greater than you.
- Stop validating insomnia by talking, thinking or labeling yourself as such. Start thinking about yourself as someone who is learning to let go and sleep better.
- Consider getting professional support.
- Of course there’s something else you can do in the bedroom that’s good for letting go. You figure it out.