Do you sometimes lay in bed at night, and find you just can’t sleep? You think ahead to all your commitments the next day with the prominent thought….”tomorrows ruined.”

If you struggle with getting to sleep at times, you are not alone. And…. there’s some optimistic new sleep research which gives those of us with a bit of insomnia some hope in moments of sleepless despair.

Try a day-time nap

Sleep researchers have found that a 60-minute daytime nap can reset your cognitive functioning to approximately the same state as if you’ve had 8 hours sleep. If for example, you managed to get 4 hours of sleep, a 60-minute nap that day will reset your brain with the same markers is if you’ve had a full nights sleep.

Just a heads up, make sure your nap doesn’t go for over the hour. A 90-minute nap starts to have an inverse effect as we are likely to experience sleep inertia with a nap extending over the hour.

Yoga nidra

If you find you are just not a napper or you cant seem to nap – never fear! Professor Andrew Huberman, sleep scientist from Stanford University has found that no-sleep-deep-rest can charge up your parasympathetic drive, just like zapping your relaxation battery, so you are more likely to fall asleep at night.

Yoga Nidra is an example of this – a guided sleep meditation - where your certified yoga teacher will guide you into a state of consciousness between awake and sleeping, like the “going to sleep phase.” *Experience a yoga Nidra at my upcoming Beachside Yoga Retreat 21 January 2023.

Of course, we want to do everything we can to get on top of our sleep problems, and ultimately get 8 hours rest. So it pays to get a bit curious about the core issues of our sleep problems. (See more in my next blog on my 5 favourite tips for better sleep).

Find what relaxes you

Ironically, the more we try to get to sleep, the more we can’t sleep!

Rather than think about trying to sleep, think about what relaxes you. When you are trying to get to sleep there’s is nothing you can actually DO to get to sleep. Its about moving into a different state – letting go. As opposed to trying or doing we learn to surrender, relax and find what soothes us.

Sleeplessness is an opportunity

The ancient wisdom traditions, such as the yoga sutras, encourages us to see all our so called ‘problems’ as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of ourselves. If you are experiencing sleep problems, you might reframe it as your opportunity to learn some new relaxation techniques which could benefit you in more ways than one!

With much encouragement, and wishing you a nice afternoon nap,

Jo

Experience a Yoga Nidra at the upcoming One-day Wellness Retreat Saturday 21st January (Click the image below to learn more and to book)

Jo Jarden is a health coach, yoga teacher, personal trainer and founder of Heart and Mind Yoga Christchurch New Zealand. She helps people find mental peace, physical vitality, and to live with purpose. Learn more here about her offerings

Never underestimate a good nap