There’s not a lot worse than lying in bed and staring at the ceiling with a thousand thoughts running wild across your mind. When we’re stressed or anxious it very often shows up at night; whether that’s struggling to drift off or waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to get back to sleep.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to just snap all the that stress away? Well, unfortunately, stress is just a part of life and, for the most part, it’s unavoidable. So the question is, how do you manage your stress? And how can you sleep better and get the rest you need even when (or especially when) you’re stressed? Let’s take a look at how to sleep better, even when you’re stressed.
How To Sleep Better Even When You’re Stressed
Align with your circadian rhythm
A circadian rhythm is the natural cycle of day and night that our bodies are biologically designed to align with. In short, when the sun rises your body’s internal process automatically begin to kick in and when it gets dark your body starts to slow down. When you align with your circadian rhythm you’re far more likely to get a better night’s sleep.
You can do this in a few ways:
- Minimize artificial lighting at night and opt for candles instead
- Turn off your TV, phone and other devices at least two hours before you go to bed
- Wake up at sunrise and with a light alarm if possible
- Go to bed and wake up at the same every day
Journal
If your mind is swirling with to-do lists and worries, then a great way to create some space in there is by writing down everything that’s bothering you on paper. When you get it out of your head and look at it from a different perspective this can often leave you feeling calmer and more in control.
Meditate
Once you’re done emptying your mind of thoughts that are plaguing you, you can fill it with more useful stuff like calming, sleepy thoughts. A great way to set your mind up to relax and drift off is to do a sleep meditation. The Insight Timer app has hundreds of free meditations and is a great place to start.
It’s Okay To Be Stressed
Stress gets a lot of bad press, and rightfully so – it’s a nasty state to be stuck in and more often than not you won’t even know you’re stressed until you finally snap. But our world is a driven, chaotic, results-based place in which to live. It thrives on busyness and stress. Stress is normal, and even if you can’t eliminate it you can learn to manage it.
Hey Joyfreshers, what’s causing you stress today? What do you do to get some sleep when you’re stressed? Let’s discuss below!
