5 Ways To Get To Sleep (without filling your stomach with a mug of hot milk)

Step aside warm milk and lettuce sandwiches (yes, really!). There’s are other ways to drop off to sleep. Mostly, it involves mind over matter and a focus on the senses.

So, you’re dropping off to sleep, dragging your lids across your eyeballs, sinking further back into the sofa pillows, then you turn off the TV and stagger to the bedroom – only to lie on your bed – completely AWAKE. Here’s some ideas to get that shut-eye.

I’ve got at least two books on the go beside my bed. I can no longer recall their titles or the main characters or who even lent them to me. But when I open a page and start to read, regardless of the theme, I’m very soon ready to close my eyes for longer than a blink.

Secondly, I’ve taken to spraying a burst of lavender spray across my pillows as I peel back the doona. And no, it isn’t an old lady in a cottage smell. It’s soothing, lingering and calming. And stays with me as I place my head down. Aah.

Thirdly, try to consciously create stories in your mind (with your eyes closed in your dark room). It’s like writing and directing your own dream script. And anything can happen. Stay with it. Let it grow wings. Place yourself or someone you know inside the story. Or, if you’re just not feeling like initiating a story, re-write the events of the day. But sensationalise them. Change the narrative and go with it.

Fourth, find a night time podcast that specialises in music to sleep to. Make sure you’ve got earbuds (so you can sleep on your side) and then turn the volume down to a whisper. I’ve found a great poetry podcast where the announcer has the most gentle, lyrical, beautiful Irish accent ever. Not that what he reads or says is incidental, but played in the ear just before sleeping gives it a new purpose.

And lastly. Find some paper. Yes, paper. And write – ‘Everything can and will wait until tomorrow. I will function better after rest and rejuvenation. Good night.’

And hopefully it’s good night you.