How to stop overthinking before bedtime

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, sowing anxiety and worry along with it, getting a healthy amount of quality sleep probably isn’t as easy as it used to be. Here are a few ways you can follow to relax your mind before bedtime and have a peaceful sleep.

Hyderabad:People of all ages, right from the time they start making decisions of their own, start to overthink. Especially before bedtime, people complain about overthinking and sleeplessness due to racing thoughts in their minds.

Here are a few ways you can follow to relax your mind before bedtime and have a peaceful sleep:

1. Take Deep Breaths

Take deep and careful breaths and focus on them. Count while inhaling and exhaling. This will help you focus on something other than your thoughts and will calm you down, reducing anxiety.

2. Repeat A ‘Mantra’

Try repeating a mantra like the best one from your favourite movie “All Is Well”, or “Everything will be fine”. Make a mantra and repeat it in situations of anxiety or overthinking.

3. Meditate

Before going to bed, meditate. Meditation helps in clearing your mind from all the negative thoughts and worries and leaves you in a relaxed state of mind.

4. No Stress Before Bed

Make a little change in your routine. Distance yourself from the technology at least one hour before going to bed and practice some gentle yoga, reading a book or taking a warm bath to soothe your nerves.

5. Stick To The Present

Most of the thoughts we have before sleeping are of the events that have either occurred in the past or may or may not happen in the future since the future is always uncertain. Therefore, it is better to focus on the present only.

6. Anxiety Boosters

Remember that caffeine and alcohol are anxiety boosters and are highly associated with insomnia. Sleeplessness due to their consumption before bedtime may lead to anxiety and you will end up overthinking throughout the night. Hence, you may consider consuming it in the evening before 6pm.

7. Look At The Brighter Side

Try to be optimistic and think about all the pleasant memories and happy events that make you delightful. Focusing on the good helps you realize that “Life is good”.

8. Write It Down

Keep a notepad beside your bed and jot down all the worries and thoughts that are keeping you awake in the night. You don’t need to find a solution to it right away, you just need to write it down to get it out of your mind for the time being.

Thus, following these practices before bedtime may help you ease the racing thoughts in your mind and help you have a peaceful sleep at night. Especially in this time, where COVID-19 pandemic has created a state of anxiety in people, these measures will help you get a sound sleep amidst all the chaos.