" People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one."
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Sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, and the reason for it is almost always the same. I had a nonstop day packed with mental activity, and my mind is just on. I'm not thinking of anything in particular; it's more like my mind is flipping around all the talk radio stations. It's the mental noise that keeps me awake.
So over the years I have learned what to do in advance so that I do get a good night's sleep. Here's what works for me.
- Exercise
- Take a ten minute breather or two during the day
- Resist the urge to work one more hour
- Meditate at the end of the work day
- Low or no alcohol consumption
- Eat moderately, since when I am stuffed it's harder to fall asleep
- Take an ten-minute Epsom salts bath
- Write a list of things that are on my mind so I can attend to them tomorrow and don't need to think about them anymore tonight
- Read something I enjoy
- Pray, forgive and remember what I am grateful for.
It's not that I do all of these in one day, but all of them help. And when all else fails and I am still awake, I get in the most comfortable position and quit trying to fall asleep.
Instead, I breathe slowly and deeply and think of a holy word that soothes me, or the words, "Just rest." Simply resting is always doable and ultimately more relaxing than trying to make myself fall asleep.
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