Get a Grip on Your Restless Bedtimes.

Sleep is incredibly vital, and you're struggling, so let's attempt a fix.

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Unfortunately, it's usually the activity that's up for sacrifice, in a sense, because it feels like the only time in the day after work, school, errands, or taking care of everything else that we really have a moment to ourselves. Daytime is often filled with exertion and it can feel liberating to take that free time to get a little bit of recreation (or endless scrolling) done.

On the other hand, sometimes it's just more hours in the "day" to get some of our looming tasks done. We can squeeze in 4 or fewer hours of sleep, set some aggressive alarms, and deal with the eventual misery in the morning. You of the morning that will actually have to get up can deal with the side effects of your decisions. All-nighter-you is fighting for their survival now.

So here's the deal: Your systems need those hours of sleep to rebuild. I'm talking all of them; respiratory, circulatory, immune, everybody, all of it. So we somehow need to gain control if we don't want to live exhausted, low-quality lives...with eye bags.

However, I think it's important that we first establish what a restless bedtime is before we proceed.

You've rounded up your day, in this case, usually because your body is frankly telling you "no". You get in bed, ready to just delve into slumber when all of a sudden, it feels like your brain is fighting a war. You're just not comfortable, your mind keeps itching for something, but nothing seems to calm it down. You can't scroll through your phone or read yourself to sleep because your concentration is laughable. It feels too hot, but it also weirdly feels cold. You keep switching positions and you feel anxious. Unfortunately, it's because you're also exhausted.

One cannot always depend on counting sheep. Have you ever counted sheep and at a point in your count it's "shut up, just sleep"?

So, when you can't count sheep anymore, I have one more alternative I devised on a desperate whim that I'd like to add to the list of alternatives that have been curated. It is also a list. I'd like to add a list to the list.

I directed myself through each step and its instructions out loud the first time I used this method. I found that it helped me zero in on each step. Here it goes:

1. Find the position.

Locate whatever position it is you typically end up in when you fall asleep. If there is none, stay where you are.

2. Shut your eyes.

It's self-explanatory, but keep them closed at every turn.

3. Let gravity take the lead.

At this point, I want you to release as much tightness as you can on your body. If you can, also release any parts of your body you have tightly sandwiched between anywhere else. This is more so for you in the morning—you don't want numb arms or feet when you wake up. If you'd rather not, it's okay to have your arm between your thighs or your palm under your head, but don't be stiff. Let everything sit where it wants to and just allow gravity to take its course. You've set everything in place, let it be there.

4. Your mind may wander.

Your brain is doing its job. It may feel like many thoughts are firing all at once, allow them to move. Don't try opposing it head-on.

5. Breathe.

Now, I want you to take well-rounded breaths. In... and out. In...and out...

6. Focus on those breaths.

It probably may have happened at this point but if it hasn't, I want you to make deliberate efforts to focus on those breaths. Focus on the pattern; feel them as they hit the top of your lip. Drive the rhythm of your breathing for as long as it takes.

7. If this works, see you in the morning.

Or when you get up to go to the bathroom...and repeat.

To say I was mind blown upon waking up after my first attempt would be an understatement. I was really impressed to know that some regimen I'd pulled out of my you-know-what had brought me such a resolve.

The mind truly works wonders when desperate.