Sleep Like the Rest of the World This is for those people who know what it feels like to lay in bed for hours, but do not
fall asleep. I am not referring to those nights right before Christmas, or the nights right before you're catching a plane out to Vegas with the gang. Knowing the kinds of things that happen in Vegas, who could
sleep? I am talking about having insomnia. The kind that happens most of the week. Where you try everything, counting sheep, warm milk, pills, even playing dead. I used to be one of these people. I would lay there, and obsessively check the clock. It got very tiring.
Here are some tips that you can use together to help you achieve a restful sleep on a
regular basis. Just like anything else, you have to practice. Trying these suggestions just one night, might get you to sleep, but the way to sleep restfully on a regular basis is to execute them routinely.
This behavior will train your mind to get you to sleep when you lay down for the night. Eventually you will be able to sleep restfully without having to use a method. That is the point. Also, your bed should not be the one to blame here. Stop laying there thinking it's your poor bed's fault because it lacks visco elastic memory cells. Although it might keep you from spilling wine on your mattress, you don't have to run out and buy the latest bed developed by NASA.
Go to bed only when you feel you are at the point of dozing off. I don't mean walk around until you fall down. I am talking about having heavy eyes while reading, working on the PC, or watching television. Soon, your brain will have you going to bed at regular times.
Speaking of television, never watch in bed. You can watch anywhere, except in your bed. At least until you start sleeping normally.
If you are still awake after a half hour, get up and do something. Watch TV in the den, or fold laundry. Nothing too exciting. This will train your inner mind to associate late night hours with boring chores. This, in turn, will send you signals to go to sleep.
Process your worries during the daytime. I know what you think, "I do worry during the day!" What I mean is, try not to put off worries until later, so that you get through the day. In my case, worry, was the main reason I was having trouble falling asleep. This suggestion is an important one. Your worries are like roadblocks in front of what it is you really want. For instance, if you worry about your future financial security, then you what you may want is a new career, or just plain cash. Come up with a plan, and write down steps that you should take to achieve this. Just this little exercise, will tell your brain that you are dealing with the problem, and that you are working it out.
All of the suggestions I have just mentioned, will help you reprogram your mind to sleep at normal times like the rest of the world. But, in the process of trial and elimination, I found something else that helped me not only fall asleep, but made the actual sleep much sweeter. If you are someone who relies on meditation for your lifestyle this might not be for you, because it could train your mind to fall asleep when you meditate. But, for those that do not, you can use meditation techniques right before sleep, to get you into a relaxed state. This will also make dreams much richer, more vibrant, and, at times, downright delicious.