COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we live our everyday lives. It has affected many of our daily routines, and one of its biggest reported impacts has been that on sleep – insomnia kicks in when we are anxious.
So many people are finding themselves with sleep issues for the first time in their lives:
- awake for long periods
- unable to fall asleep at all
- wake up several times during the night
- more intense and emotional dreams
- tired and groggy the next morning
- find it difficult to concentrate or function properly
- feel irritable
A good sleep strategy will help you sleep well and can limit the negative effects of poor sleep.
Try these FIVE hints for calmer and better sleep.
- Limit news intake and avoid your mobiles and tablets for at least an hour before bed
Do something to boost your mood before bed ? a humorous television programme or an uplifting podcast or book can help you sleep - Structure your day
Our brains and bodies thrive on routine. Try to wake, exercise, eat and sleep at similar times each day - Focus on your breathing
Think about resting rather than sleeping. Follow your breathing by silently whispering the words ?in? and ?out? to induce sleep. - Learn to relax
Relaxation can switch off the stress response, physically and mentally. Find something that works for you ? mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing or a long hot bath. - If you can?t sleep ? get out of bed
Your bed should not be a battleground. Instead, try to enjoy the sensation of merely resting.
Putting a plan into place to set yourself up for the best results can help many forms of sleep issues and insomnia.
If you are not sleeping well, and traditional treatments are not working, self-hypnosis may be able to help you learn the behaviours to ensure you too can sleep the way you deserve.
It uses different approaches to induce relaxation, such as focused attention, symptom control and guided imagery.
And, unlike sleep medications, it has no side effects, so it can be an aid for those who can?t or don?t want to take sleeping pills.
Learning to relax can help overcome bedtime restlessness ? ease the worry, tension and anxiety that prevent sleep ? and can open you up to the deep, restorative sleep that we all need.
To get started, download this complimentary audio recording.
https://matthale.com.au/sleep/
And take the first steps on the road to better nights sleep!
About Matt Hale
Hypnotist & Mindhacks Speaker, his book ‘Mindhacking Happiness’ book became a number 1 bestseller, and recently, UK bookmakers William Hill officially issued odds of 1000/1 of him replacing Daniel Craig as the next James Bond!?(as discussed in his TEDx talk about the “Power of Probably”) for more information head to www.matthale.com.au.