The Best 4 Ways to Fall Asleep Quickly
A lot of people have trouble falling asleep, but when it’s due to anxiety, that mind-racing, heart-thumping feeling could last you ALL. NIGHT. Here are the best 4 ways to fall asleep quickly by calming your body and mind.
1. White noise
Firstly, let’s talk white noise. Do yourself a favor and get a fan (it doesn’t even have to be pointed at you) or download a white noise app (there’s a million). White noise blocks out the little noises in your house or apartment that you will inevitably obsess over once it’s silent at night. House creaks, water dripping, your dog, cat, or human snoring, etc. In short, white noise blocks that all out to give you a clean (sound) slate and gets your mind all fuzzy and calm.
2. Podcasts
Secondly, podcasts. There are podcasts DEDICATED to getting you to fall asleep. The obvious choice is “Sleep With Me.” It’s a podcast that essentially pioneered the idea of podcasts for helping people fall asleep. The episodes are nonsensical stories that generally make no sense, resulting in you falling asleep! There’s many more – “Sleep to Strange”, “The Sleep and Relax ASMR“, and to mix it up a bit… “Mysteries Abound,” a podcast that is fascinating yet calming at the same time. I’ll put a podcast on low volume through a speaker, or I’ll wear noise canceling headphones that are cushioned and very comfortable. For instance, I use the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.
3. Lavender
I’m sure we’ve all seen lavender pillow spray and wondered if it actually works, and I’m here to tell you that it does. I’ve been a doubter for years, until I purchased the lavender pillow spray from The Body Shop and did a test drive for a month straight. Absolutely it works! Spray it lightly a few inches away from your pillow and let it work its magic. Studies from the National Sleep Foundation have shown that there’s a significant correlation between the power of lavender scents and deeper, more restful sleep. It’s a fairly inexpensive alternative that has no harmful effects whatsoever. As a result, I highly recommend testing it out this option for yourself.
4. Breathing Exercises
Lastly… breathing exercises. I can’t stress this enough – behavioral therapists will tell you that breathing exercises are one of the most important things you can do when dealing with anxiety. Breathing deeply and slowly brings your mind and heart to a more restful state, therefore helping you restore your brain activity back to a more normal pattern. Breathe in deeply through your nose, hold for five seconds, and release your breath slowly through your mouth.
Need tips for those waking hours, too? Read the proven Top 5 Tips for Fighting Anxiety at Work.
