Sleeeeeep

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?”
― Ernest Hemingway

Sleep is a great mystery. We don't know exactly why it is that we sleep, or how it happens. And the trade in sleep remedies is huge!

While  there are lots of herbs that help people sleep in various ways, sometimes I find myself just not wanting to get up and find them. Sometimes I'm almost there, almost asleep, but I can't quite do it. Here's a technique that has helped me innumerable times:

First, check for tension. In me, it's in my hands. If my hands are closed, not even in fists but gently balled up, I won't sleep.

Then, I count my exhales. On each one, I try to relax more. Almost inevitably I lose count, which is fine. I just start over. If I get to 10, I roll over and start again. Usually, I don't make it that far.

Something about focusing my mind and actively relaxing just shuts me off. May it help you too!