Sleep. We want it and we need it, but in Act 2.5 it’s not unusual to have sleepless hours in the night. Blame it on what you want – menopause, that late night glass of wine or feeling overwhelmed by that ‘to do’ list – but falling back to sleep can be a daunting task. WebMD suggests things you can do to minimize sleeplessness, such as maintaining a regular bedtime, limiting your caffeine intake during the day and avoid staring at the clock as time ticks by. These may all work for some but there are other techniques to soothe yourself at the end of the day. One of my favorite ways is reaching for an electronic device to visit these websites devoted to providing a calming experience. Give them a try!
#1 YouTube’s Oddly Satisfying Video Channel
YouTube offers a channel of videos that trigger a mood known as ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) to promote relaxation and sleep. Watching ASMR videos have been proven to release chemicals, such as serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins in the brain that bring a feeling of satisfaction and a peaceful state of mind. Here are two videos to get you started, Satisfying Video and Fall Asleep.
#2 The Honest Guys Website
This guided meditation and sleep experience video channel provides high quality imagery that is soothing to the eyes and ears. Their YouTube channel offers a wide variety of 30 minute to 3 hour sleepytime videos.
#3 Ackerman’s Sleep With Me Podcast
If you’re not in the mood to watch a video, another relaxing technique is to listen to a podcast.
Drew Ackerman is the creator of this one-of-a-kind bedtime story podcast. Created in 2013, Sleep With Me combines the “pain of insomnia with the relief of laughing and turns it into a unique storytelling podcast.” Studies show that many of his listeners fall asleep during the twenty-minute introduction, so why not give it a try. This podcast tops the iTunes popular podcast list.
#4 NPR Modern Love Podcast
This compilation of award winning essays, read by celebrities and famous actors, focuses on all types of love stories that are soothing and uplifting. Just close your eyes and listen to beautiful love stories about humans, animals and life itself.
#5 Calm Website & App
The idea behind Calm is to “take a moment” and relax. Their mission is to provide engaging stories, informative videos, calming music and of course, meditation techniques all in one place. You can take your experience with you by downloading its popular meditation app found in both the Google Play and iTunes store.
Tech Tip: When using any electronic device at night visit Settings and set it to night mode (iPhone or Android) to avoid the glow of the “blue screen”. And then just sit back and relax.