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Let Go of Worries Before Bed

You can make sleep-disrupting thoughts disappear


A hand writing notes at an office desk at night
PeopleImages/Getty Images

Quick Win

Learning how to quiet those thoughts and replace them with positive alternatives may help you drift into sleep.

Try This Today

  • As you lie down in bed, think about something that brings you tranquility and peace. Focus on the thought and expand upon the details.
  • If a worry or stress emerges in your mind, redirect to focus on your tranquil, peaceful thoughts.
  • Visualize positive moments and people in your life.

Why

Clearing your mind may help you sleep, and regular, restful sleep may reduce worries. In a study of 52 adults who were repetitive negative thinkers, those who went to bed late and slept for shorter periods of time had more negative thoughts than those who slept regular hours, as reported in 2018 in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.

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