The Library
Practical guideMental healthTrauma1 minute read
Sleep when your mind will not switch off
Practical things to try tonight.
Lying awake with racing thoughts is miserable. Some things can help.
During the day
- Get up at the same time each day
- Get daylight in the morning
- Move your body
- Limit caffeine after midday
Before bed
- Wind down for an hour: dim lights, no work
- Write down worries and a next step for each
- Keep the bedroom cool and dark
When you cannot sleep
- If you have been awake a long while, get up and do something calm in low light
- Return to bed when sleepy
- Try slow breathing or a body scan
If it continues
Long term sleep problems are worth talking to a doctor about. Talking therapies for insomnia work well for many people.
