Repetitive Thoughts, Ease Them For Restful Sleep

Getting some much needed shut eye can sometimes feel like trying to run a marathon without the training. Millions of Brits across the country really struggle to get the sleep they need. Repetitive thoughts are a major stumbling block for many of us. When your mind feels like a washing machine permanently stuck on a spin cycle, sleep can start to feel illusive. However, there are numerous techniques that you can use to halt these repetitive thoughts. Here at Beds On Legs we've got some techniques that you might want to try to overcome your pesky repetitive thoughts.

Start A Journal

Journaling has proven to help to calm the mind. Indeed, getting the thoughts out of your head and on to paper can have a real therapeutic effect. Some have even suggested that journaling can be as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy. We think that makes journaling a pretty powerful tool. Plus you can do it in the privacy of your own home and it’s free!

Tell Yourself To Stay Awake

There is nothing worse than trying to stop yourself thinking and willing yourself to sleep. Indeed, this is a surefire way to rev your brain up even more. It is hypothetically adding fuel to the fire. One way to halt repetitive thoughts and getting to sleep is to actually tell yourself to stay awake. This may seem counter-intuitive at first. However, when you tell yourself to stay awake you are taking pressure off yourself and therefore more likely to relax and unwind.

Try Some Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises can often work better than a sleeping pill. Indeed, they can help you relax and have you sleeping like a baby in no time.

The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

With this technique you inhale for four seconds, hold to a count of seven and exhale to a count of eight. This method helps to relax body as it replenishes oxygen in the body

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise

Firstly, lie on your back and place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Take slow and deep breaths. Try to keep the hand on your chest still and allowing your other hand to rise and fall with your stomach.

Alternate Nasal Breathing Exercises

In a crossed legged position place your left hand on your knee and your right thumb against your nose. Exhale completely and then close the right nostril. Inhale through your left nostril then open your right nostril and exhale through it.

Get Up And Out Of Bed

We would bet our bottom dollar that we have all tossed and turned in bed to no avail. In fact, you can guarantee that the more you try to encourage yourself to sleep the more illusive the land of nod appears. Sometimes the best thing to do is to get out of bed and do something else. Perhaps you might go downstairs and read a book or maybe go for a warm relaxing bath. However, at all costs try to avoid technology as this has been shown to negatively affect sleep.

Meditate To Rid Yourself Of Repetitive Thoughts

Meditation is for many the holy grail for catching those zzz’s . Mediation can help create the perfect inner conditions for getting some quality sleep. This is because mediation is an effective tool for relaxing the mind. Indeed, when the mind settles then the body will follow. You can use apps such as Headspace to get started.