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The Best Guided Sleep Meditation Tactics For Beginners
Guided sleep meditation refers to the practice of calming the mind down enough for deeper and more peaceful rest. If you’ve struggled with sleep anxiety in the past, you might be familiar with the experience of your brain going into overdrive close to bedtime.
One of the benefits of engaging intentionally with guided sleep meditation is that it allows you to be more aware of the present moment, and stop worrying too intensely about factors beyond your control at the time. Staying engaged with sleep meditation has revealed to have numerous health benefits, including stabilizing blood pressure and mood swings.
If you find yourself struggling with sleep deprivation, it’s important to know that a combination of healthy sleep hygiene practices works best to get some much-needed snooze time. Making sure you have the right elements in place: from the top rated mattress to a cozy corner in your bedroom for meditating, will help your guided sleep meditation remain that much more effective.
How To Optimize Your Bedroom For Peaceful Sleep
Whether you sleep on a memory foam mattress or you’ve had the same innerspring for years, the type of bed you sleep on can have a deep influence on the quality of your rest. Making sure you’ve optimized your bedroom for the best sleep is important before you go into learning other ways you can improve your sleep hygiene.
The best mattress for your sleep is going to depend on a wide range of factors. Your personal comfort is something unique to you, so finding the best mattress is important if you’re trying to achieve a seamless sleep experience.
Memory foam mattresses are highly ranked for their versatility and comfort. They’re the best mattress for people who share their beds and need something that will be equally suitable for different kinds of sleepers. The molding capabilities present in memory foam mattresses ensure a wide range of sleeping positions are well supported through the night.
There are other ways to assess the best mattress for your needs. The best mattress companies should provide a sleep trial that allows you to test out whether or not they’re the right fit.
Simple Guided Sleep Meditation Practices
The basics of guided sleep meditation are actually quite simple. Get yourself into a comfortable position – this might be lying down, or sitting up straight, and keeping the lights off or dimmed. Begin by taking a few deep breaths at your own pace, and allow your body to sink into the bed with every exhale.
There are a few different ways to engage yourself more deeply into this practice. Using the body scan method will allow you to be more present in your body, without having your mind stray onto other nagging thoughts. Body scanning involves staying conscious of how each independent part of your body feels and taking stock of any comfort or discomfort you’re experiencing in the process.
Another way to practice sleep meditation sincerely is by using a technique called gratitude meditation. Reflecting on what has brought you joy and things in the day you’re grateful for will help combat any excess anxiety you may be experiencing, and calm you down in order to prepare you appropriately for a good night’s sleep.
Sleep Meditation Apps That Can Help Get You Started
If you feel confident you’ve got the basics of guided sleep meditation down, and you’ve also settled on the top rated mattress for your comfort, it’s time to bring in some extra reinforcements. While there’s plenty of resources on the internet if you’re looking for some guided sleep meditation courses or videos, nothing beats the ease or convenience of a meditation app to get you through a restless night.
Downloading an app can be a quick and effective way for you to calm yourself down before you go to sleep. Here are some of our top recommendations if you’re looking for guided sleep meditation practices that are genuinely helpful:
#1 Headspace
Headspace is well-known in meditation and mindfulness circles. The free version includes something they call ‘sleepcasts’, which are about 40 to 50 minute-long audio recordings that help you stay present and allow yourself to slip into deeper sleep.
#2 Calm
Similar to Headspace, Calm has a ‘sleep stories’ section that allows you to guide yourself into deeper sleep. These adult versions of bedtime stories are a great way to disengage from other stressors that might be distracting you from a good night’s sleep.
#3 10% Happier
This app has a wide range of meditations that range from three to forty-five minutes, ensuring you can pick a length that works for you and still get to sleep in good time. There’s even an option to message a mediation coach, which is useful if you’re looking for that extra bit of help.
Guided sleep meditation requires practice and patience, as well as the proper set up of a comfy mattress and weighted blankets to make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. Try the above techniques and you’ll soon be getting the good night’s sleep you deserve.
