Getting Started
- Find a quiet place to sit comfortably upright—at the edge of your bed, on the floor, or in a chair
- Close your eyes and tune into the breath or another point of focus to be fully present
- Relax your body—loosen your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and soften your brows
Mindful Meditation to Help You Fall Asleep
The only thing worse than not being able to fall asleep is lying awake, thinking about why it's impossible to fall asleep on the one day of the week you need to wake up early. Sound familiar?
There could be a variety of reasons why your brain and body are fighting rest. Perhaps it's your anxiety regurgitating all of the interactions you had earlier that day or even years back (yes, you really did say that to them out loud) or a mix of your daily stressors coming at you full throttle in the middle of the night. Whatever it is, we owe it to our bodies to release those worries and put them to bed, quite literally, so we can replenish our energy and stay physically and mentally well.
The amount of sleep you need varies depending on age, but the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults clock in at least seven hours a night.
This sleep meditation helps you visualize a light entering your body—and while that seems counterintuitive for bedtime, imagine this light filling every cell of your body with warmth, relaxation, and peace. Gently allow your awareness to melt into those feelings until you ease into a deep sleep.
This meditation is also a part of Verywell Mind's 30-day meditation email series, Pause & Play. Sign up here to subscribe and continue your mindfulness journey with us. For more videos, check out our meditation library.