A firestick plant at a neighbor’s house. They are beautiful but toxic succulents.
Lying in bed each night, Andy Buelow often finds himself thinking one thought over and over: How awesome it was to ride the ferry across Lake Michigan as a kid.
Mr. Buelow pictures himself back on the ship, imagining the whir of the engines, the smell of steam, the rushing water and the cold spray on his face.
“When I remember the feeling, I am asleep within minutes,” says Mr. Buelow, 61 years old, the chief executive of a symphony orchestra in Muskegon, Mich.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-happy-memory-can-help-you-fall-asleep-if-you-know-how-to-use-it-11674527348?mod=life_work_lead_pos4
That is the opening of a story from the Wall Street Journal by Elizabeth Bernstein called “A Happy Memory Can Help You Fall Asleep, If You Know How to Use It.”
According to the article, sleep researchers say what we think about before we fall asleep is as important as having a relaxing routine, turning off our screens, etc.
Here’s another excerpt:
They recommend that as we prepare to drift off, we practice something called savoring, which is imagining a positive experience we’ve had in great detail.
Savoring is well-studied as a strategy to improve our general well-being. A considerable body of research shows that it can boost mood and help reduce depression and anxiety. Now, psychologists believe it can help us fall asleep and have better sleep quality, and are starting to study its effectiveness.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-happy-memory-can-help-you-fall-asleep-if-you-know-how-to-use-it-11674527348?mod=life_work_lead_pos4
So here’s the question, if you choose to try “savoring” what memory will you be thinking about?
This makes a lot of sense, the focus on a positive memory to calm and prep for sleep. I do the opposite all too often and replay crap over and over in my head realizing three hours later that sleep is eluding me. I don’t know a particular memory I would choose- maybe something kid related, put I do know I need to do that more often EA!
I am a worrier and I can’t seem to stop my brain some nights. It’s worth a try!
I like the savoring a positive experience. Thanks for sharing EA
I’m going to try it. For some reason I had an awful night’s sleep last night.
Sleep well my friend
Thank you!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Well, I’ll have to try this. I don’t have trouble falling asleep, but if I wake up at 3 AM, then I have trouble going back to sleep.
Me too! Often I wake up several times a night.
I love that the fitbit can tell me my number of deep sleep and light sleep. My deep sleep needs to improve but with the white noise husband purchased, it is working magic. Generally if I get 3 hours of deep sleep a night, that is good.
My Fitbit died. I found that I’d look at my sleep on it in the morning and feel instantly exhausted if my sleep wasn’t good. White noise is a great idea.
I enjoy knowing how many steps I walk and my heart beat. I find it helpful!
I enjoyed mine too but went through two of them. I decided to try life without one and I make sure I take the same walks I did when I had my Fitbit.
Probably beautiful words that people have said…
That’s nice 😊