I so related to this post Sam! Restless nights are a challenge. And I love that you brought in the Princess and the Pea story. When I was in elementary school I was in this play. I was not the princess, but this story has really stuck with me through the years. And not being able to sleep does feel like the pea under the 100 mattressess. And I agree with Safar, I have a “sleep hygiene” too! I don’t drink caffeine after 2:00 or eat after 6:30. No screens in the bedroom except for my kindle, reading does help me fall asleep. I also drink soothing tea in the evening.
When I have sleepless nights what works the best for me is the Soham mantra. This is the song and breath of life. The sound of the breath itself. I repeat silently inside “So on the in breath and “Ham on the out breath. A Vedic mantra that means "I am That", for me it means more "I am Here." When I start to engage with this mantra I am usually in an agitated state. Meaning I can lose the mantra and go back into whatever is keeping me awake. It does take a few returns before I can settle in and fall back asleep.
Sam, may your sleep be nurturing, soothing and restful. May you awaken refreshed and enthusiastic about your coming day.
I generally sleep very well, and I think a lot of that comes from what sleep psychologists call sleep hygiene, which is really a routine around sleep, go to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, with other things that mark a sleep routine, like a ritual before bed. I make sure not to drink anything caffeinated after 2pm, read when I go to bed before switching out the lights, no electronic devices or screens in the bedroom, complete dark, lots of light during the day (as much as is possible in winter), keep the bedroom cooler than other parts of the home, that kind of thing. Oh and exercise. I have a positive correlation between sleep and exercise. If I can't sleep, I get up, cool down, stretch a bit, usually the break from fretting about not sleeping helps. And I sing 'somewhere over the rainbow' in my head very, very slowly as a focus away from stress about not sleeping.
I enjoyed your poem. Perimenopause was very like that for me! Loved the squashy pea!
Thanks for this accurate, beautiful piece. I will forever visualize squashy peas beneath the mattress now! This has happened to me a million times, ok that's a slight exaggeration but it feels like a lot. I used to get all worked up about it but I'm better now. One thing that has helped me is exactly what you describe here - doing my best to go inward. Also the newest research on sleep has helped, knowing that we usually are getting more zzz's than we think and that as long as we sleep decently 80% of the time that's our body will have its needs met.
I get it! I've had months of difficulties with sleep. I think it's the peri menopause conbined with my body being used to a toddler waking me up so even though she is waking less I am still alert! It's hard not to get stressed about it but I seem to be managing better on less sleep now and I often move to the sofa bed in the lounge when I start getting too frustrated!
Sam, you have no idea how familiar this has been to me the last week or so! I am tired when I go to bed, but then wide awake when I get in bed. There is so much cosmic and energetic activity my sleep has been so light. Yet I am still wide awake in the day. I’ve surrendered too it, but it feels quite strange. I’m going to try what you did. I used to be an amazing sleeper, but since I started my spiritual journey, I have this periods where I’m obviously required to do something else in the night. All part of the fun. xx
I listen to sounds, bird song, sea sounds, rain, thunder. Or long meditation or visualisation tracks. Even if I’m asleep, which can happen, I’m still hearing them. If I can’t get to sleep, then it’s mindless TV. Before I was in the middle of doing my house up, I could go downstairs and do planning for business, life, or for myself. Now, with no heating (at the moment) and a living room that looks like a furniture repository, that’s not an option. Until the room is finished, anyway.
I have sleep sprays on my bedside table, lavender, and lavender based.
I so related to this post Sam! Restless nights are a challenge. And I love that you brought in the Princess and the Pea story. When I was in elementary school I was in this play. I was not the princess, but this story has really stuck with me through the years. And not being able to sleep does feel like the pea under the 100 mattressess. And I agree with Safar, I have a “sleep hygiene” too! I don’t drink caffeine after 2:00 or eat after 6:30. No screens in the bedroom except for my kindle, reading does help me fall asleep. I also drink soothing tea in the evening.
When I have sleepless nights what works the best for me is the Soham mantra. This is the song and breath of life. The sound of the breath itself. I repeat silently inside “So on the in breath and “Ham on the out breath. A Vedic mantra that means "I am That", for me it means more "I am Here." When I start to engage with this mantra I am usually in an agitated state. Meaning I can lose the mantra and go back into whatever is keeping me awake. It does take a few returns before I can settle in and fall back asleep.
Sam, may your sleep be nurturing, soothing and restful. May you awaken refreshed and enthusiastic about your coming day.
I generally sleep very well, and I think a lot of that comes from what sleep psychologists call sleep hygiene, which is really a routine around sleep, go to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, with other things that mark a sleep routine, like a ritual before bed. I make sure not to drink anything caffeinated after 2pm, read when I go to bed before switching out the lights, no electronic devices or screens in the bedroom, complete dark, lots of light during the day (as much as is possible in winter), keep the bedroom cooler than other parts of the home, that kind of thing. Oh and exercise. I have a positive correlation between sleep and exercise. If I can't sleep, I get up, cool down, stretch a bit, usually the break from fretting about not sleeping helps. And I sing 'somewhere over the rainbow' in my head very, very slowly as a focus away from stress about not sleeping.
I enjoyed your poem. Perimenopause was very like that for me! Loved the squashy pea!
Thanks for this accurate, beautiful piece. I will forever visualize squashy peas beneath the mattress now! This has happened to me a million times, ok that's a slight exaggeration but it feels like a lot. I used to get all worked up about it but I'm better now. One thing that has helped me is exactly what you describe here - doing my best to go inward. Also the newest research on sleep has helped, knowing that we usually are getting more zzz's than we think and that as long as we sleep decently 80% of the time that's our body will have its needs met.
I get it! I've had months of difficulties with sleep. I think it's the peri menopause conbined with my body being used to a toddler waking me up so even though she is waking less I am still alert! It's hard not to get stressed about it but I seem to be managing better on less sleep now and I often move to the sofa bed in the lounge when I start getting too frustrated!
Sam, you have no idea how familiar this has been to me the last week or so! I am tired when I go to bed, but then wide awake when I get in bed. There is so much cosmic and energetic activity my sleep has been so light. Yet I am still wide awake in the day. I’ve surrendered too it, but it feels quite strange. I’m going to try what you did. I used to be an amazing sleeper, but since I started my spiritual journey, I have this periods where I’m obviously required to do something else in the night. All part of the fun. xx
I listen to sounds, bird song, sea sounds, rain, thunder. Or long meditation or visualisation tracks. Even if I’m asleep, which can happen, I’m still hearing them. If I can’t get to sleep, then it’s mindless TV. Before I was in the middle of doing my house up, I could go downstairs and do planning for business, life, or for myself. Now, with no heating (at the moment) and a living room that looks like a furniture repository, that’s not an option. Until the room is finished, anyway.
I have sleep sprays on my bedside table, lavender, and lavender based.
Chamomile tea helps, or hot chocolate.