Neuroscience and health studies reveal that sleep is essential for general health, particularly brain health. Humans are meant to spend at least a third of their lives sleeping, with children requiring even more. Poor sleep can negatively impact overall well-being and cognitive function.
A busy brain that won’t switch off is a primary psychological reason for sleep difficulties. Modern life’s demands, constant thinking, and the need to be alert or productive during the day make it challenging to relax and fall asleep at night.
Passive activities like listening to music, reading a book, or watching TV are ideal for winding down. It’s important to avoid work-related emails or messages and limit exposure to blue light from phones or laptops. Keeping the lights low and focusing on calming activities helps prepare the mind for sleep.
A bedtime routine, consisting of the same set of calming activities before sleep, helps signal to the brain that it’s time to wind down. This practice, similar to routines for children, can improve sleep quality by creating a consistent and relaxing pre-sleep environment.
Staying in bed, staying warm, and focusing on calming the mind and relaxing the body is often more effective than getting up. Techniques like slow breathing, muscle relaxation, or listening to something easy can help redirect focus away from worries and back to sleep.
Scheduling a specific time to worry during the day, such as 10-20 minutes, allows you to process concerns beforehand. This prevents worries from surfacing at night and disrupting sleep. Acknowledging and listing worries during this time can reduce their impact on nighttime rest.
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"Your future depends on your dreams, so go to sleep." Mesut Barazany
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