Improve your sleep by recognizing that thoughts aren't always accurate and by not fighting them

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLm5aTUpnZGNrdk1N

If thoughts and worries keep you awake at night, the worst thing you can do is try to actively suppress them or try to force them out of your mind.<br /><br />As soon as we try not to think about something, the brain checks to see if we are thinking about that very thing — the result, is we think about the exact thing we are trying not to think about!<br /><br />Not only is this strategy ineffective, but it is also mentally exhausting — and this can contribute to fatigue.<br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />Daytime fatigue is caused by more than just a bad night of sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAecAVm3a-o<br /><br />A better strategy is often to simply recognize your thoughts and not engage with them. Thoughts are just thoughts — they can't harm us and they aren't always accurate.<br /><br />Related video: <br /><br />To reduce sleep-related anxiety, try to identify, evaluate, and address the reasons for the anxiety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_9_1qypY8<br /><br />Try to think of your thoughts and worries as clouds in the sky — no matter how menacing they may at first appear, they will soon pass.<br /><br />The less attention you pay to these thoughts and worries, the less power they will have over you. In a way, they're a bit like the playground bully — as long as you react, the bully won't go away. Ignore the bully, and they'll soon get bored and move on.<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don't miss any videos): http://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=youtube062519<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 />#mindfulness<br />#sleep

Insomnia Coach 842 views June 25, 2019 10:08 pm

If thoughts and worries keep you awake at night, the worst thing you can do is try to actively suppress them or try to force them out of your mind.

As soon as we try not to think about something, the brain checks to see if we are thinking about that very thing — the result, is we think about the exact thing we are trying not to think about!

Not only is this strategy ineffective, but it is also mentally exhausting — and this can contribute to fatigue.

Related video:

To reduce sleep-related anxiety, try to identify, evaluate, and address the reasons for the anxiety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_9_1qypY8

Try to think of your thoughts and worries as clouds in the sky — no matter how menacing they may at first appear, they will soon pass.

The less attention you pay to these thoughts and worries, the less power they will have over you. In a way, they’re a bit like the playground bully — as long as you react, the bully won’t go away. Ignore the bully, and they’ll soon get bored and move on.

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don’t miss any videos): http://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=youtube062519

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
#mindfulness
#sleep