Get a Good Night’s Sleep With Meditation

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I'm Jennifer
Life coach, EFT / Tapping expert, yogi & wellness activist with a wild heart dedicated to support you in living the life of your dreams.
“BY [MEDITATING] EACH NIGHT, SLUMBER CAN BECOME A REALITY INSTEAD OF A ‘DREAM.’” —ORA NADRICH
Try this 9-minute guided meditation by wellness coach Jennifer Partridge to help you relax and fall asleep like that. (Feel free to do it lying down, tucked into bed.)
But before you lay your head on the pillow, here are a few tips from Nadrich that you might want to practice each evening:
- Don’t eat dinner late: According to Nadrich, 7 p.m. is the ideal time to have your last meal in order to give the digestive system a break until morning.
- Cool it on the alcohol: Excessive drinking can reduce REM sleep.
- Avoid stimulants: It’s best to drink coffee and other caffeinated beverages early in the day.
- Stay out of the cookie jar: Sugar is a stimulant. If you have a sweet tooth, indulge earlier in the day—or better yet, abstain if you can.
- Turn off your gadgets: The backlit screen affects melatonin levels. Keep them out of the bedroom if possible.
- Say no to violence on TV: Nadrich says watching violent TV shows or movies can be autohypnotic (meaning it can induce an automatic state of hypnosis), and brutal images can seep into our subconscious and bring on nightmares.
- Kiss and make up: Don’t go to sleep angry. When you fight with your partner, that energy heightens your emotions and can raise your blood pressure, which will definitely keep you awake if it happens before bed.
Once you’ve mastered these behaviors, you’re halfway to drifting off to dreamland. Meditation will get you the rest of the way there.
“When we mindfully prepare ourselves for sleep by adhering to healthy habits before bed, along with a calming meditation, we increase the chances of a better night’s rest,” says Nadrich. “With consistency, this sends a message to our subconscious that we desire sleep, and it takes its direction from us. By doing this each night, slumber can become a reality instead of a ‘dream.’”
Written by Dana Poblete