![]() A couple of big worries are “I’m not sleeping …” and “how will I function tomorrow if I don’t get enough sleep tonight?”. Many people worry about work, money, family, health, relationships, what they have said earlier in the day, what people might think of them. Stress and very busy minds are two of the top causes to keep us awake at night. ![]() Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our health, so if you’d like to incorporate more mindfulness into your daily routine, here are some ideas that I practice regularly: This balancing means we don’t get stuck in the ‘fight or flight’ position, preventing us from falling asleep, something which people are struggling with more and more due to the pace and constant connectivity of modern life. Our nervous system is like a pair of scales and needs to be balanced, little and often, throughout the day. Being mindful moves us from a place of ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and digest’, which our brains need to invite sleep. Specific to sleep, mindfulness helps calm a busy mind by giving it a break from future thinking, worrying, planning and taking in a constant stream of information. Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere, anytime and the science world is now firmly on board, thanks to its proven health benefits. So, what exactly is mindfulness? I like to explain it as ‘paying attention, without judgement, to the present moment – your thoughts, senses and environment’. Researchers have now found that practicing mindfulness throughout the day is linked to an improved ability to detach from a busy day, enhancing both our ability to fall asleep and the quality of our sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just about what you do to wind down in the evening. Start by trying a few of these suggestions from our resident experts about how to add mindfulness into your day and then slowly incorporate more practices to reap the full benefits. While Dr Tony Fernando, Insomnia & Sleep specialist, recognises that stress and worry are primary factors that keep people awake at night and recommends some helpful mindful strategies to help deal with these. Kristy Von Minden, founder of Mind Bright, shares her neuroscience and psychological insights and recommends implementing simple principles to soothe stress levels and encourage a happier life and mindset. Claire’s tips look at daily practises such as meditation, cutting back on technology and focusing on what nourishes your mind, body and soul. We spoke with Claire Robbie – meditation teacher, journalist and mama, about her techniques and teachings and how they assist with sleep and easing the mind. In today’s day and age with technology in front of us at every turn and our busy schedules, many of us struggle to calm our mind for a restful sleep.
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