As someone who struggles with insomnia, I know how distressing it is to not get a good nights sleep. This year, many of you will have been sleeping poorly, worrying about your results or over-thinking the exam papers. And as for dropping off the night before the big day? Forget it! ….Right? Wrong!Here is a simple way to make yourself fall asleep, no matter how awake your brain seems:
Relax your body in 6 easy steps
My friend shared this technique with me many years ago – she was taught it when she was struggling with sleep during her final year studies.
- Lie flat in bed, in a quiet room with no distractions
- Straighten your limbs and don’t allow them to touch
- Close your eyes
- Focusing purely on your feet, think to yourself “I cannot feel my feet”. Repeat this over and over until your feet feel ‘numb’, then move upwards “ I cannot feel my ankles”
- Continue the process with your lower legs, upper legs, hands, lower arm, upper arm and eventually the main body.
- If you get moved or disturbed, start the process again from the feet
All being well you should fall to sleep before you’re even halfway through the process. Personally I’ve never got past the lower arm stage!
Good luck and sweet dreams,
Elizabeth x
