Are you struggling to fall asleep because your mind is racing with thoughts and worries? You are not alone; many people suffer from insomnia due to overthinking at night. But don’t worry, because we have a simple tip that can help you sleep better.
What is it? It’s keeping a notebook by your bed. Whenever you have a thought that bothers you or distracts you, just grab your notebook and write it down.
How much should you write?
You don’t have to write a lot; just enough to remind yourself of it in the morning. Alternatively, just write enough to help you off-load your thoughts and feelings.
How does this help?
Writing in a journal can:
- Help you clear your mind – we have found that often, when people really think about what’s keeping them awake, it is because something is on their mind. Writing in a notebook helps you ‘off-load’ those feelings and thoughts, helping your mind and body to relax a bit.
- Help you let go of the thought until the next day – few thoughts remind you of things that you must do instantly, therefore, you are safe to let go of that thought until you’ve had a good night sleep.
- Help you avoid trying to solve it right away – for the same reason as above; few things need resolving instantly,
- Help you learn to associate bed time with relaxation – your bedtime routine provided little ‘anchors’ that help your body realise that it should be winding down for bedtime. Anchors are important because they link a behaviour to a particular action.
What else can you do to relax at night?
If you want more tips on how to improve your sleep quality, click here to contact us and arrange a free consultation. We can apply our knowledge and experience, to help you achieve a restful night sleep. We look forward to hearing from you.
Other sources of helpful info:
- Mental Health Foundation (date unknown). How To Sleep Better. Accessed April 2023 from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-sleep-better.
- NHS (date unknown). Better Help: Every Mind Matters.Trouble Sleeping. Accessed April 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/.
