TURNING YOUR BRAIN OFF FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
Have you ever found yourself like Snoopy or Woodstock, as in the picture above? Just as you snuggle into your comfy bed for a good night's sleep, you find your brain swirling in a frenzy and refusing to settle in for a good night's sleep.
Research has shown that there are steps we can take to help us settle in for a good night's sleep. It actually is a matter of having a talk with yourself and letting your overactive brain know what is going on. It is okay to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in our lives and in our world! Repeating to yourself that it is OK helps. Letting our brains know that we can manage this. It is not a matter of solving any problem right at this moment.
Be kind to yourself and tell yourself that you did your best today. If you feel that all you could give was 40%, then you gave it your all. That is ok! Tomorrow is going to be a good day. Closing your eyes and thinking in a positive mode is extremely helpful.
Acknowledging that where you are mentally is ok. It is a normal response. Simply mind over matter is a great way to deal with those swirling problems and spiraling negative thoughts. Repeating that you don't need to solve is right this minute. Taking a mental vacation by telling your brain that you can manage it tomorrow after a good night's sleep. As for today, you did the best that you could do at that time.
Tomorrow will be a better day. Sometimes, if your brain is hard-headed, it may require you to actually make a list of what you did not get to today and wake up with a fresh start. Relax your brain. Putting it down in writing lets you know it will be there tomorrow.
