I couldn't sleep last night. I kept reviewing conversations from the day in my mind, thinking of better responses to what I originally said, while also thinking of everything I need to do this week. My mind was racing a million miles a minute.
Augh.
Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this...
As I was laying there, trying to calm down my mind, I decided to try out a few relaxation techniques I learned last week. One of the techniques is to lay there, and focus on one thing, like how something feels. So I focused on my pillow.
Ah, yes. I breathed in deep. The pillow is soft....fluffy....it feels...warm....no hot....wait...my neck is hot....*sigh*...flip pillow over to cool side....ahhhh....much better....okay, back to focusing on the pillow....clear your mind, Shan...the pillow is fluffy....like a cloud....in the sky....the sky? Oh crap! I forgot to book my plane ticket for next week....
AHHHH! And then my mind is racing once again.
I laid there for another hour, tossing and turning when I finally decided to use a technique that I've used since I was little. I decorate my dream house in my mind. I don't just decorate it though, oh no. I focus and concentrate very hard, picking out the perfect piece of land for my house. Then I begin to build the home. Where the windows will go, what color the outside trim will be, what stone I will use, etc. I picture every nook and cranny. When the outside is finished (including landscaping), and if I'm not asleep by then, I focus on the interior. In my mind, I can see every detail- the molding, the paint color, accents, furniture textiles, pillows, drapes, hardware, and I place all of them in my dream house.
When I finally fall asleep, I usually dream about decorating (no kidding, right?). Last night I dreamt I was designing a room in an airport for people to sleep in while waiting for their flights. Not just any room though. All of the rooms looked exactly like my childhood bedroom.
Weird, I know.
Does anyone else have their own little trick to falling asleep?
8 comments:
Shan, I do the SAME THING!!! You know what the solution is...Lunesta. Seriously, I swear by it.
I also had a doctor in college who prescribed xanex for that. Although I do love me some xanex, I feel like it is better for calming my brain down and not necessarily for making me sleepy. The Lunesta does both-calms and sleep-if-ies.
In the alternative...this might sound silly, but self-hypnosis through breathing techniques can also make me dream. But not usually about designing :)
I wish I could think about things before I fall asleep, that would be great meditation. But the minute my head hits the pillow I am out! Also, I don't talk enough to anyone to wish I had said something a different way. I need to take more time to think, thanks Shan. I am sure you are not the only one.
uh... have three kids... you'll never have a problem falling asleep, bc you'll be so tired. It's STAYING asleep, while they sneak up in your bed at 3AM, that is the trick! lol
Shelley
My trick is melatonin. Seriously, love the stuff.
I always stay up WAY too late ... like 1 a.m. or 2 am. ... so when I finally convince myself not to read in bed, I fall asleep instantly. I really need to start going to bed earlier!
Have a kid! You will just fall in bed with exhaustion each night. No really-I actually do the same thing, I go over in my head all the things that have to be done, conversations that I need to have, conversations that I've already had, etc. I know this sounds bad but I start to pray and then I fall asleep in the middle of it. I figure God understands and doesn't hold it against me that I can never actually finish a prayer.
I do exactly the same thing many nights. I hate it!!! Whatever is on my mind, I think about until I can FINALLY fall asleep. We actually have an offer in on a house, and I go CRAZY thinking about it. But, thinking of all the changes I want to make (someday...) does the opposite for me... it keeps me awake!
Post a Comment