Few things are worse than lying awake in bed, agonizing about the fact that you’re not already asleep. You watch the minutes tick by, calculating how many hours of sleep you won’t be getting because you can’t turn your brain off.
If this is you, we’ve got a tip for you to try tonight: Focus on your breathing while you’re lying in bed. One method, described by the National Sleep Foundation, is called “4-7-8” breathing. Here’s how it works:
- Exhale fully through your mouth, making a whooshing sound.
- Close your eyes and inhale through your nose while counting to four (in your head, of course).
- Hold your breath while counting to seven.
- Exhale through your mouth, making that whooshing sound again, while counting to eight.
- Repeat the sequence three more times.
This technique can help empty your mind of thoughts and focus on the rhythm of your breathing.
Article from the StayWell Company, LLC