Sleep Nanny

Using Your Imagination

Nanny has noticed that sometimes people use their imaginations to keep them awake rather than to help them go to sleep. Nanny has a very good imagination, so she knows what that's like. She has also learned some nice tricks to use one's imagination to make sleeping a very nice experience. She will share some of those tricks with you, knowing you will put them to good use, and maybe even add some to them from your own good imagination.

You may have thought or said, "I don't know why I am resistant to going to bed, or going to sleep."

Let's assume you're not resistant to it, but that you hadn't found a way yet to make it more appealing to you.

With that in mind, Nanny would like you to do the following:

Remember times when you enjoyed going to bed and sleeping deliciously. Just enjoy the memories. Make them really juicy, noticing all the pleasant sensory details, the air, colors, feelings of comfort, textures, softness of the mattress, surroundings, etc.
Feel the same pleasure now. Notice the body feeling.

When you fully feel that good feeling, clasp your wrist with your other hand. Hold it there for a few seconds as you enjoy the sleeping related memory. Then, release your grip on your wrist, and notice your present surroundings.

Repeat the above at least three times. (This is called setting a positive anchor. We can use it later.)

What would a good sleep experience need to have to make it very enjoyable and satisfying? Companion(s) (objects, pets, persons), location, clothing, food, drink, light, dark, warmth? Write them down.

What would be good and enjoyable pre bed/sleep actions and post sleep actions? As in, drinking a favorite beverage, resting with one's feet up, doing gentle stretches, listening to music, self massage, having a snack, reading? Write them down.

Now, just for the pleasure in it, imagine going for an ideal bed/sleep experience, with items from the above. Just imagine doing it, enjoying each part of the before, during, and after.

Now, having done that, what could you add to make it even better? Add it/them, and imagine again this great refreshing rest experience. Keep on making improvements and enhancements and imagining the primo sleep experience again whenever you think of another possible enhancement or improvement.

Don't try to go to sleep. Instead, create great imaginary sleeping experiences. It's OK to go to sleep and OK to not go to sleep yet. You'll fall asleep when you are ready to. Your body will know when you are ready.

Routines

Nanny grew up, part way, on a farm, a farm with cows. She learned that cows are placid and co-operative animals, but not if you chase them across the pasture a few times before trying to get them into the barn for milking.

In Nanny's early babysitting experience she, having evidently misplaced the learning about cows, had a brilliant idea while sitting with a two year old. She thought if the two year old were tired he would undoubtedly go to bed willingly and to sleep peacefully and quickly. So, Nanny engaged the two year old in a game that involved running through the circular floor plan of the house. Two Year Old loved the game, and wanted to play long after Nanny was ready to stop. He was not at all sleepy or peaceful. He was eager to play more games and stay up past his usual bedtime.

Nanny learned that his normal sleeping routine had been violated, and he had been energized by exercise.

Adults, like children (and cows) go to bed and to sleep better with peaceful and routine activities before bedtime.

Tonight, notice your own bedtime routines. Recall the routines of your childhood. What can you do to make your present before bed routines more satisfying and peaceful? Pick at least one thing you can do now to improve your own pre-sleep routine.

About Sleep Nanny

Sleep Nanny is here to help you. She knows how tired you are, and how much you'd like a wonderful night's sleep. She wants to teach you to sleep well, and do it gently, kindly, and effectively.

Nanny will provide educational information about sleep for you. And, being a good nanny, she will do so in an interesting and delightful manner.

Nanny will also, whenever she finds a particularly soft and cuddly blanket or other useful sleep aid, tell you where you can get one.

Go ahead, now, rest your head on the pillow and relax. And, come back tomorrow to see what nice things Nanny has for you.