Most people know by now – getting the right amount of sleep makes a huge difference in our moods, hormone balance, and ability to handle stress. Not to mention cognitive and even physical function. Sleep is how our bodies, including our brains, renew themselves. A recent article from Harvard reminds that sleep deprivation “wreaks havoc in the brain, impairing thinking and emotional regulation.” I don’t know about you, but that’s the last thing I need!
I’m not sure why, but I often resist going to bed. Maybe it’s a leftover reflex from all the years having horrible nightmares. In the last few years however, I’ve become increasingly aware that this doesn’t make sense. In fact, staying up later and getting less sleep actually makes my life harder.
For instance, I can tell after a couple of days not going to bed on time that my memory function is worse. This not only increases my anxiety but is actually a trigger of my c-ptsd since not being able to remember something was the number one thing that always got me into a world of trouble growing up.
So if I know that getting more sleep is best for me but I struggle with making that happen, what can I do that will help me reach my goal? Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with.
- Exercise – Even a 20 minute workout on my exercise bike can help me burn off enough nervous energy to be ready for some shut-eye, especially after the warm relaxing shower that follows.
2. “Sleep Yoga” – Google “yoga poses to fall asleep.” I stumbled onto a blogpost on Pinterest and it changed my bedtime routine for a while. It’s amazing how well it actually works to get me wound down, plus the stretching is really good for my body anyway.
3. Pray & Read my Bible – I sometimes read Psalms or the words of Jesus, such as perhaps the Beattitudes to help me get into a calm, serene state. There are also some promises about finding peaceful sleep that I find it helpful to pray. For example, one is ““When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). Try Googling “Bible promises for sleep.”
4. Journaling – Sometimes when my mind is racing, this one is especially helpful to get rid of the worries of the day and remind myself God is in control. After a half hour of journaling like this, I feel much calmer.
Do you have tips for falling asleep when you don’t feel like sleeping? Please share them in the comments, and if you try these and like them I’d love to hear from you!
