Don’t avoid relaxing and enjoyable activities at night when living with chronic insomnia

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLlQxSmYwdVM3RkI0

Many people with chronic insomnia might avoid enjoyable activities in the evening for fear that they will overstimulate their minds and make sleep more difficult. The fact of the matter is, any activity that you find relaxing and enjoyable is a positive activity — because the goal of any evening routine should be relaxation!<br /><br />Related videos: <br /><br />The best relaxation techniques for sleep when you have chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucxF0Yj-pos<br /><br />How a buffer zone can help you fall asleep when you are living with chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJNiHDaLxk<br /><br />As bedtime approaches, there is no need to plunge yourself into darkness! Most people who have no problem with sleep keep the lights on when they are awake and turn them off only when they go to bed. This is evidence that overhead lights and table lamps do not disrupt sleep.<br /><br />(It is often a good idea to avoid using a computer or tablet in the hour or so before bed since these devices can be very stimulating and can be so distracting that they hide sleepiness cues.)<br /><br />Depriving yourself of activities you enjoy in the evening such as puzzles, crosswords, sewing, painting, etc, because of your insomnia will reduce your quality of life, feed your insomnia, and perpetuate the problem.<br /><br />As long as you don't fall into the trap of incorporating sleep rituals into your life, and you are sensible with your evening activities (for example, it might not be a good idea to work on the tax returns just before bed or watch a stressful movie with the surround sound blaring), they are unlikely to have any negative effect on your sleep — but they will likely improve your quality of life if you have been avoiding them in the past for fear of disrupting your sleep.<br /><br />Related videos: <br /><br />Sleep rituals are rarely a good idea — especially if you live with chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VoyybMMjN8<br /><br />If you have chronic insomnia, it's OK to watch TV at night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuHE462q_c8<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don't miss any videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube061319<br /><br />You can also find me here:<br /><br />Website: https://insomniacoach.com<br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach<br />Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach<br />Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/<br /><br />All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.<br /><br />#insomnia<br />#sleep

Don't avoid relaxing and enjoyable activities at night when living with chronic insomnia

Insomnia Coach 572 views June 14, 2019 2:42 am

Many people with chronic insomnia might avoid enjoyable activities in the evening for fear that they will overstimulate their minds and make sleep more difficult. The fact of the matter is, any activity that you find relaxing and enjoyable is a positive activity — because the goal of any evening routine should be relaxation!

Related videos:

The best relaxation techniques for sleep when you have chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucxF0Yj-pos

How a buffer zone can help you fall asleep when you are living with chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJNiHDaLxk

As bedtime approaches, there is no need to plunge yourself into darkness! Most people who have no problem with sleep keep the lights on when they are awake and turn them off only when they go to bed. This is evidence that overhead lights and table lamps do not disrupt sleep.

(It is often a good idea to avoid using a computer or tablet in the hour or so before bed since these devices can be very stimulating and can be so distracting that they hide sleepiness cues.)

Depriving yourself of activities you enjoy in the evening such as puzzles, crosswords, sewing, painting, etc, because of your insomnia will reduce your quality of life, feed your insomnia, and perpetuate the problem.

As long as you don’t fall into the trap of incorporating sleep rituals into your life, and you are sensible with your evening activities (for example, it might not be a good idea to work on the tax returns just before bed or watch a stressful movie with the surround sound blaring), they are unlikely to have any negative effect on your sleep — but they will likely improve your quality of life if you have been avoiding them in the past for fear of disrupting your sleep.

Related videos:

Sleep rituals are rarely a good idea — especially if you live with chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VoyybMMjN8

If you have chronic insomnia, it’s OK to watch TV at night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuHE462q_c8

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don’t miss any videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1

My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube061319

You can also find me here:

Website: https://insomniacoach.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach
Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/

All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.

#insomnia
#sleep