Sleep Meditation for Skeptics

What is meditation for sleep, and can it really help me?

Meditation for sleep is a way to clear your mind before bed and relax your body. It can help you fall asleep more easily and get a better night's sleep. There are many different ways to meditate for sleep, but the most important thing is to find a method that works for you and stick with it. Some people find it helpful to practice meditation for sleep every night, while others only do it when they're having trouble sleeping.

There is some scientific evidence that meditation can help improve sleep quality. One study found that people who practiced meditation for sleep every night for eight weeks fell asleep more quickly and woke up less frequently during the night. Another study found that mindfulness meditation helped reduce insomnia symptoms in people with chronic pain.

So, if you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, meditation may be worth a try. You may find that you start getting better sleep after just a few days of practice.

What is keeping you awake at night?

There are many things that can keep people awake at night, including stress, anxiety, noise, and light.

Stress is one of the most common things that keeps people awake at night. When you're stressed out, your mind is racing and it's difficult to fall asleep. Anxiety can also be a cause of insomnia. If you're anxious about something, you may find it hard to relax enough to fall asleep.

Noise is another common factor that can keep people awake at night. If there's a lot of noise outside your window or if you have a snoring partner, it can be difficult to get a good night's sleep. Light can also be a problem for people who are trying to sleep. If there's a lot of light in your room, it can be tough to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Should I meditate during the day or at night?

Meditating any time of day or night can be helpful in getting a good night’s rest. Meditating during the day can help release stress overall, which will help you at night, too. When you meditate at night, you can become so relaxed that you fall asleep easily. You may want to try meditating at different times of the day and night to see what helps you most. Stick with it for several weeks to start to see the benefits.

3 Easy ways to meditate

  1. Breathing awareness - This is a very easy type of mediation that you can do any time. Simply focus on breathing in and out naturally. Any time your mind wanders, just bring it back to your breathing. Don’t feel upset with yourself if your mind wanders a lot, especially at first. This is totally normal. Return to focusing on your breathing if you catch yourself thinking about other things. 
  2. Body scanning - This type of meditation is great for relaxing before bed. Lay down and get comfortable. Then start with your feet and focus on how they feel. Let go of any tension in your feet. Now repeat this process with your legs, arms, stomach, etc. throughout your entire body. Notice where you have tension and relax those areas. Eventually you will have released tension from your whole body, and should feel very relaxed.
  3. Guided meditations - There are countless guided meditations available online. Try searching YouTube for ‘guided sleep meditation’ or search your phone’s app store for guided meditation apps. You may need to try a few before you find one you enjoy. Guided meditations are an excellent resource because you don’t need to think about how to meditate, or remember anything. Just follow the guide and feel more relaxed.

Guided meditation resources

Some of the most popular apps for guided sleep meditations are Headspace and Calm. Both of these apps have a variety of different meditations for sleep as well as other health benefits. They're both free to download and easy to use.

If you're looking for online recordings, there are a number of websites that offer free guided sleep meditations. One of the most popular is UCLA's Mindful Sleep Program. This website has a variety of different recordings, as well as information on the science of sleep and how meditation can help improve your sleep quality. Lifehack also has a page with numerous guided sleep recordings.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. It's effects are time-tested and proven to work. Try a few of the suggestions in this article to find which type of sleep meditation works best for you.

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