Sleep Meditation

When to use it

I wake up in the middle of the night and cannot fall back asleep. The worry about not sleeping becomes the reason I am not sleeping. This is what I say to stop the loop.

The meditation

Say each line slowly. Breathe between them.

• You have slept eight hours.
• Your body knows how to sleep.
• You need to quiet your mind.
• Relax.
• Take deep breaths.
• You can do this.
• You cannot force yourself to sleep, but you can put yourself in the best position possible.
• Try not to think.
• Take deep breaths.

The point

The anxiety about not sleeping is what keeps me awake. Reminding myself I have already slept enough removes the pressure. The best position possible is all I control. The rest is the body’s job.