I admit, there are nights when sleep is hard to come by…I can’t slow my brain down to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Why is sleep so far off in the distance at times?
My mind is racing–thinking of all the things that went down during the day–things I didn’t get to check off my “to-do” list, distractions, just being worked up and not being able to sleep…it stinks.
So, to rest my anxious mind (and maybe offer some advice for those of you who may have anxious minds, too)–here are some good tips to remember.
- SLOW DOWN (Preach). Have you ever been told you have “too many irons in the fire?” Or, maybe you are the person who can’t say no…when you get anxious, your entire body wants to speed up. EVERYTHING wants to do all the things super fast. Your heart may beat faster, your breathing may accelerate, and it is so hard to make some healthy, good decisions. Try to remind yourself to slow down—breathe slowly, find a happy place to think about–and s l o w d o w n.
- Anxiety lives in your mind and at times manifests in your body. Take moments to connect with your five sense–as crazy as that may sound, this can help you bring you to your senses. Come to your senses.
- Find the joy in the simple tasks. Life is so full of simple, every day tasks…walking the dog, playing with the dogs, naps, eating snacks, drinking water, cooking, those things can help you feel the control you may lack, or feel like you may be losing. Those small moments can be big moments, so slow down and enjoy the little things.
- Check Reality. The mind is a very powerful and creative place–sometimes our mind tells us things we don’t want to hear, or things that we should believe. Stop that. Although it may seem easier said than done, try asking yourself, “is this absolutely true?” or, my favorite, “is this real life?” I honestly do ask the latter on a daily basis.
- Channel the energy. Not all anxiety is bad. You can channel that anxiety and do something productive. For me, when I am stressed, anxious, and feeling overwhelmed, making a list of things I need to accomplish is incredibly helpful. Sometimes that energy is channeled into cleaning, working on projects that have been put on the back burner, or simply finding that mindfulness and trying to relax. I often have to remind myself to “breathe.”
- Listen. Try to listen to your surroundings (and your body). Listening to a waterfall, enjoying the peacefulness of nature, and listening when someone is speaking to you. When you pause and listen, you can get back in touch with the simplicity of life, of being in the moment–and again, I have to remind myself of that at times.
I know it can be challenging to calm the anxious mind…but if you practice simple techniques, mindfulness, breathing, and relaxing you’ll be on your way to easing your mind (especially if you want your mind to slow down and get some sleep).