Tossing and turning at 3am is far from ideal (especially when you’ve got a huge work meeting at 9am), but instead of lying there, trying to switch your brain off, research shows that giving it something different to think about is the key to finally falling asleep.
“People with insomnia will often plan the next day, re-hash the previous day, think about daily concerns,” says Les A. Gellis, Ph.D., sleep research and professor of psychology at Syracuse University. You know how it is – you worry about whatever it is you’re worrying about, then you start worrying that your worrying will keep you awake!
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Instead, change the channel, and think of something different that’s interesting, but not too exciting. Ideally: “Interesting enough capture your attention for long enough to allow your natural sleep process to take effect, yet at the same time, does not elicit emotional or physiologic activation or arousal,” says Gellis.
Decide on three potential topics before you go to bed tonight. If one doesn’t capture your attention, or if it starts stressing you out or making you more awake, then you can immediately choose another topic.
Some ideas? Try creating an imaginary world as in a fantasy novel, devising a new food recipe, mentally reciting the lyrics to your fave musical, or even make elaborate holiday plans. The key though, is to not become so absorbed that sleep becomes an afterthought – so thinking about a hot little vacay with Calvin Harris probably isn’t the best choice!
