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WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COUNT SHEEP BUT CAN’T SLEEP
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COUNT SHEEP BUT CAN’T SLEEP
My fitness tracker has a feature called Body Battery. It shows a count that depicts the energy levels you have throughout the day. As you hit your end of the day and it is time to get some rest, the count is usually in lower single digits.

When you wake up, depending on how good your sleep was and how well your body recharged itself, the count goes high. Sometimes in higher 90s and sometimes in higher 80s. So the gist is, the better I sleep I during the night, higher the body batter count is during the day, which inturn keeps my energy levels higher. Sleep is therefore very important. It lets your body recharge itself.

For the longest period of my childhood, whenever I couldn’t fall asleep, I slept using the same hack every time. I imagined to have a hundred million bucks in hand and began thinking what I’d do with it. Well, back then, a hundred million was the farthest I could stretch my imagination. I’d donate to charity and buy a few things like an ice cream factory or a toy one or even a shoe manufacturing unit. Before I’d even spent a few thousand, I’d fall asleep. I still haven’t spent the remaining yet!

We’ve heard this time and again that when you can’t fall asleep, count the sheep. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work anymore. With the thought’s factory refusing to shut down and the phone beeps tempting you to open your eyes and check (“one last time, I promise!”), it becomes difficult to fall asleep quickly. What results is lack of adequate sleep, irritation, a drowsy morning and a body that does not feel healed enough. Well, there are reasons galore as to why one can’t fall asleep. Like the impending board meeting or those project reviews. The nasty comments. The bank EMIs due for a long time. Or even the nagging parents, kids and spouses who leave you with a drained mind. Try something that works.

What I’ve realized is that there is no point in trying to stop the thoughts. When you’ve suppressed your tensions and worries the whole day, they will jump to the front when you begin to sleep at last. Random thoughts cross your mind. Allow them to flow and don’t respond. Don’t continue the thread with responses of your own. Observe how your mind churns out stuff from its deepest recesses and enjoy it. After a while, the mind calms down on its own.

Many grown- ups actually sing their own childhood lullaby in their minds to fall asleep. And boy, it works. The same one that your mom, granny or nanny sang to you. Get a recorded version if you can. Who says only kids needs a lullaby? Talk to yourself to fall asleep. Remember how mom put you to sleep. A specific song, memory, your mom’s quilt, some smells like rosemary or Lemongrass induce sleep in many. Oh! Even that menthol balm works for many.

But if you’re troubled by sounds around, you’re in for some big trouble. The traffic on the road, the noisy neighbors, some faraway song playing or even a street dog barking can distract you. Try to create a soundproof room. Better still, switch on the AC or play some soothing music to mask the irritation. The internet is full of albums of soothing sounds like running water, chirping birds, the Tibetan gong or a subtle flute that can calm any frayed nerve. Read more.....