During this time on your divorce journey, sleep may be elusive. Normally, we wake up in the middle of the night because it’s too hot or too cold. You drank a lot of liquids near bedtime. Or the sound of thunder jolted you awake. But when your mind is troubled with racing thoughts, it won’t allow you to drift into sleepful bliss. Instead you’re tossing and turning, not being able to find that comforting sweet spot. Or you fall sleep only to be awakened by a nightmare.
No one truly sleeps through the night. We say things like, ‘slept like a baby,’ or ‘slept like a rock,’ because even though we did wake up to use the restroom, turn down the thermostat or grab an extra blanket, we still got rest. I want to share with you are the methods I tried to help me get my seven hours of sleep. That number may be different for you. I have curated these methods over time, troubleshooting my sleep issues and none require any sleep aides or prescriptions. I want to avoid suggesting those because I never used them, and I don’t want to offer anything I have little knowledge of.
The Amish HourThis one is a challenge. An hour before bedtime, you don’t watch TV, no laptop or computer and no cell phone use. The only thing allowed is reading a book (no kindle!) or journal writing, even drawing or sketching if you’re the artistic type. The purpose of this is to avoid exposure to electronic device radiation that can affect your circadian rhythms. After some practice, this method was priceless in helping me sleep better.
Foods to Say No ToHave you ever noticed that eating certain foods too close to bedtime keeps you up? I love spicy foods! But having some close to bedtime gave me sleep issues. There’s indigestion and heartburn, but also it gives me nightmares. If I drink coffee too late, that keeps me awake. Nothing like going to bed with a racing heart! There was one time I had to do a one-hour exercise video to burn off the excess energy I had!
ASMRThis acronym stands for, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and I discovered this during the Pandemic. ASMR triggers those tingling goosebump sensations you get when someone plays with your hair or gives you a massage. I started watching videos of people receiving pedicures, manicures and massages and it relaxed me so much, I feel asleep watching those and never could finish a video. I know this counters method number one, but it has helped me fall asleep within minutes. I just wake up a little groggy, but I fall right back to sleep. My favorite YouTube Channel for this is called ‘ASMR Twix’ a sister team that produces this content weekly. One goes to spas in Japan and receives amazing treatments and the other films and edits the videos. They speak in soft-spoken Japanese which adds to the ASMR experience.
Sleep MusicAnother Pandemic discovery, YouTube has all kinds of sleep music for depression, anxiety, insomnia, even addictions. The music created uses various hertz frequencies to induce relaxation, sleep and some claim to induce lucid dreams! Because our bodies are technically made of a good percentage of water, the frequencies resonate with every cell and molecule. Some even have subliminal, positive messages that can only be heard through the subconscious. How amazing is that? I have noticed a difference when I fall asleep to this type of music. I keep my phone in my nightstand drawer, but I can still hear the music.
If your sleep problems can’t be solved by any type of method, it’s best to consult your doctor. Sweet dreams! If you are needing a caring and compassionate Colorado Springs divorce lawyer to assist you with your family law matter, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation about Colorado Springs divorce, child custody and family law at 719-344-5523.