When you lying awake in the middle of the night worrying about work or your relationships, your brain can go into high-alert mode, a.k.a. hyperarousal, which makes you more sensitive to your surroundings If you’ve been on edge and having trouble falling asleep lately, we’re sure you’re ready for the nights of staring up at the ceiling in the dark to come to an end. When stress and anxiety are stealing your rest, here’s how to chill the F out and finally get a good night’s sleep. How to fall asleep fast when your mind is racing Face your worries head-on. If you’re hyper-focused on an issue that you can’t let go of, write down what’s on your mind and tell yourself it will be there for you tomorrow,4 This can majorly help with racing thoughts at night. Pay attention to your breath instead of your stress.
When life’s occasionally gnarly demands are keeping her clients up at night, Nicole Flynn, ASW, a therapist based in Los Angeles who specializes in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), recommends breathing exercises to help with relaxation She particularly likes the 4-7-8 breathing technique because it can reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, both of which can spike when you’re stressed and make it harder to sleep.
How to Fall Asleep Fast When Your Mind Is Racing
