Count Yourself to Sleep

If you're in bed and haven't been able to fall asleep for a while, start counting backwards from 100. Do it slowly, about once a second, 100 . . . 99 . . . 98 . . . and so on. Take your time.

The trick is this: If you get lost or forget what number you're on, you need to start over again from 100. Every time you get lost, gently start over. Don't allow yourself to become frustrated, just be gentle with yourself and start back over from 100. Yes, even if you're all the way down to 6 . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . and your mind wanders, start again from 100.

Why does this work? For one, it takes a reasonable amount of concentration to count backwards and do it slowly, much more than counting forwards. This will help keep your mind from thinking other thoughts, and isn't it those other thoughts . . . the "radio station" in your mind . . . that's keeping you awake? Doing something that takes a little mental concentration (the word "little" is important here) should help calm your mind.

For another, it's monotonous and therefore mildly hypnotic. Since your goal is to become unconscious (otherwise known as "asleep"), this little bit of self-hypnosis can help. Note that it's not hypnosis in the usual sense, such as "you are getting sleepy". Rather, you're just doing something monotonous with your mind that has will have the effect of making you sleepy.

When I have trouble falling asleep and I use this simple exercise, I'm almost always asleep before I successfully count down to zero the first time. If I make it all the way to zero without losing my place, I just start over at 100 again. For sure, I'll be asleep before I make it to zero the second time.

Hope this helps - let me know how it works for you. I'm grateful to Michael Dennis, president and founder of Oregon Aero, Inc, for this little trick. Oregon Aero makes wonderful comfort products for aircraft, other motor vehicles and home use. Check them out at www.oregonaero.com. Sweet dreams!