My cure for insomnia.
Works every time.
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{I’m big on disclaimers, so to be clear: I’m not a doctor and though this post is informative re: my personal decisions, nothing should be considered medical advice.}
I love sleep. Love, love, love sleep. Not much of a napper, yet there is nothing better than snugging down at night in my favorite comforter and drifting away. It’s the astral travel aspect, too. This body might sleep — but I’m circling universes to chat with otherworldly friends in beautiful places.
Just a hunch.
I am super positive in the morning but if sleep is interrupted by insomnia, it can cause lots of misery to my otherwise happy self. It was worse when I woke at 5:30 to commute into the City during a previous career — and on 3 hours of sleep, my ass was grass. These days, an interrupted night is manageable but not ideal. With my type of work, I need to be ON POINT. Can’t get away with being a zombie, though the ability to nap does provide a bit of temporary latitude.
Good thing I have a proven cure for insomnia — because I refuse to sacrifice my precious sleep. Happy Raven, happy life. I am willing to change diet/patterns and do whatever it takes to protect a delicious night of uninterrupted slumber.
Some preventatives:
All devices shut down 1-2 hour before bed. Wireless/modem off. No devices in the bedroom — phone/computer/TV.
I’m disciplined about my devices and keep them in a Faraday bag. A client who struggles with EMF issues advised that wireless/modem blasts your brain all night long, so I shut that off, too. Can’t hurt!
Everything organic, as much as possible. Tinctures. Chinese herbs. Water. Little caffeine. Intermittent fasts (early dinner).
Clean food = good sleep. Health is wealth in my biz and if I can’t show up for a client with full powers, I’m not operating with integrity.
I start the day with lemon water, decaf tea and homemade bread or oatmeal. I’ll make a fat smoothie mid-morning. Biggest meal? Lunch. Light dinner by 5ish — if I even eat dinner — so the intermittent fast is 14-15 hrs overnight. A late meal, high salt or sweets cause a crappy, stop/start sleep.
No sugary drinks — other than an occasional kombucha or sweetened creamer — and decaf coffee 1-2x a week. Pure spring water and herbal tea all day long. I went GF/DF 20 years ago and reap the benefits now. Vegan for 2 years but reluctantly started to eat red meat/pork for higher energy levels.
As for alcohol, I was never much a drinker — yea, once the girl who was a “downer” at the party and stopped going because drunks are boring — and have a few glasses of wine or whiskey a year, if that.
You might have a completely opposite way to eat, depending if you’re sunny-side up (me) or a night owl. Tuning into your body, its digestive process and circadian rhythm is critical. It’s all about a happy, high-functioning liver. A smartwatch can only tell you so much, especially if you are a peri or menopausal woman. Your needs will change — sometimes on the hour! What you used to eat with no issues may be the very thing that causes suffering now.
Like me with the Korean BBQ lunch yesterday. Had to have it, despite the wheaty soy sauce, so I’m coughing and stuffy today.
But really — sometimes you just have to have Korean BBQ.
I don't need 8-10 hours of sleep every night.
Who says the body needs that much? I average a 9 hour rest — but sometimes I’m up at 4am, make nettle tea and go watch the stars before heading in for another hour of sleep. That pocket of time provides the best dreams and visions. Other nights I’ll hit the hay later and still wake refreshed at my normal time (7am). I have the luxury of no interruptions (except a pesky cat) and I’m aware that we all create different home structures to experience. I’m certainly happier than I’ve ever been. Restful sleep is key.
The cure.
If I find myself tossing around, anxious over “wasted” time, I stay in bed and keep my eyes closed. My brain may spin but that indicates she needs mental gymnastics. First, I remind myself of many available naps tomorrow — but resist the temptation to get up. I then picture the top of my head, feet or diaphragm — and silently say something like this:
Thank you, brain. Thank you, blood. Thank you, pituitary gland. Thank you, skull. Thank you, veins. Thank you, liver. Thank you, enzymes. Thank you, lungs.
You get the idea. Start with the basics, then graduate to specific names — bonus points for Latin, though I prefer English. No need to go in any order. Be creative. The brain loves that granular stuff.
Thank you, nostril hairs. Thank you, metatarsals. Thank you, spleen. Thank you, shoulder girdle. Thank you, bowels. Thank you, white blood cells. Thank you, neural pathways. Thank you, fingernails. Thank you, taste buds. Thank you, spinal fluid.
No only do you heal your body as it feels your love and gratitude, you will exhaust your brain until you fall asleep. If are able to name EVERY single part — I never have because I don’t know them all! — start again. No music, no talking out loud, no extra words. Just name them parts, as specific as possible, until you fall asleep.
I’ve never reached the 3rd round because zzzzzz …..
Thank you, sleep.