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Especially if you’ve woken from a nightmare or a stress dream.
Calming yourself down and returning to a sleepy state can be tricky.
A cool pillow can provide soothing relief, but why is it a cure for nightmares?
“When you wake up in a panic your body is flooded with stress,” explains ul-Haq.
Slow and steady breathing methods such asmoon breathingand the4-7-8 sleep methodhelp release muscle tension while centering your thoughts.
Write down your worries
Waking up from a nightmare can leave you terrified of every squeak and shadow.
In stark black and white, you’ll probably realize that horrifying dream was actually… a little silly.
Focus on positive thoughts, things you’re looking forward to and the best parts of your day.
Want another way to scribble away your nighttime worries?
Trythis daily habit of highly organized people will help you fall asleep in minutes.
But if you’ve been lying awake for a while, a change of scenery can help.
When you feel close to dropping off again, go back to bed.
Or, at least, far away from the bed.
That way, you have to work for your screen time.
Don’t start watching the clock
Time can move strangely in the middle of the night.
But fight the temptation to check the clock.
For a start, clock watching can increase anxiety, especially if you’re seeing time tick away.
Second, let’s be honest: most of us check the time on our phones.
Which means exposure to bright light (and probably a few notifications).
