Health, Wealth & Wisdom

How To Sleep Better – Grace-4.5

July 17, 2020

I wrote these words originally as advice to my family—simple, practical tips for achieving the restful sleep that supports every aspect of our lives.

Sleep isn’t just downtime; it’s a crucial skill and essential practice. Like any skill, it requires discipline, patience, and gentle repetition.

Here’s the reminder—the checklist I offered as a nightly routine to ensure restful, restorative sleep.

Don’t bring screens to bed. The light and interaction activate your brain from the optic nerve to the visual cortex, into the prefrontal cortex, both hemispheres, and deep into the hypothalamus.

Avoid bringing work, worries, or the troubles of the world to bed. You’re not going to deal with any of it. Right!? So, let go, before you get into bed.

Do get clear on “what you want”—but do that during the day. Worry about that during the day. Then, forget about all that at night (see #2).

Trust that God, the Universe, etc., is infinitely powerful, has a plan for you, and that you don’t need to worry. You just need to sleep. So, do just that.

Breathe. Counting sheep is on the right track, but focusing on your breath is even better. Count your breaths, some call it meditation. Done right, it can also be called prayer. Breathe, stop thinking, and listen.

There’s more. But that’s a place to start.

Ultimately, restful sleep is not simply luck or chance; it’s a deliberate choice. Each night is an opportunity to practice and refine this quiet, crucial skill. Consider this your gentle nightly reminder: sleep matters, and sleeping well can truly transform your waking life.