Most people know about the importance of sleep yet many of us fail to get enough of it, or more importantly enough quality sleep. Everybody says we should be getting our eight hours of sleep, but we know that already and don’t need to be told this over and over again. Precisely how to get all this sleep often remains a mystery. So all the advice about “getting to bed on time” and “sleeping for at least 7.5 hours” is worse than useless because in the absence of any sound methods it just create needless anxiety. No wonder people often look at their phones all night, sleep with the T.V. on, or drink themselves into a coma. They think effective sleep is impossible!
To be honest, modern ways of living are often not at all conducive to good sleep. Late nights, irregular shift patterns, alcohol, excessive warmth, etc., can all be counterproductive. For example, being too hot in bed can cause you to sweat in the night. This can accelerate all the unconscious processes which should be relaxed. Because it is this subconscious part of us that is active during sleep, whereas the conscious is active during the day. So to limit it’s influence over us, it is often better to be slightly cool, so that metabolism and body temperature fall. This will slow everything down, including the mind. The last thing you want are thoughts and worries rushing around wildly. This is all common sense really.
To begin with, it is important to go to sleep with positive thoughts on your mind. If you haven’t got anything positive to think about from the days events, think about the things you would like to improve and then how that might be done. This will prepare you for the following day and set you on the right course. Because every day is a new day, and in a sense we are born anew each day. Ideally, you should think about the goal you want to achieve before going to sleep, the more positive and ideal the better.
Positive thinking does not need to be at all in relation to your immediate physical reality. In fact, our everyday surrounding are often uninspiring and dull so we shouldn’t limit ourselves to this. Get creative. It can be helpful to think about the beauty of nature instead. For example, the sound of water, the chords of a harp or guitar, and vibrant flowers1. with baby lambs running through them. If this sounds at all strange coming from somebody who engages in intense martial arts training in preparation for battle, let me assure you it isn’t. If you are going to face harsh realities and develop the mindset of a soldier, it is important to also develop the polar opposite qualities to compliment this. This is an aspect of self mastery, and it’s something I’ve put to the test personally.
In the past sleep was regarded as “descending into the abyss” against dark entities, and even a prelude to death. This is why sleep was considered so important. Whether or not you believe this is another matter. But one thing is clear, that many of us experience the modern day equivalent of these dark entities through negative thoughts and ideas that paralyze us and ruin everything the following day. Some religious texts speak of spirits which sap people of their vital energy during sleep2. Whatever your way of viewing sleep it is important to realise that it is arguably the most important part of the day and should be prepared for accordingly. The consequences of not doing this are obvious. To ensure good sleep it’s important to be vigilant even throughout the day.
The importance of preparing properly for sleep cannot be understated, because it prepares us for our work, for life. This is why in the past it was considered important to arm yourself with positivity and virtue, so that this could be embedded into your subconscious mind which is active at night. Your positive thoughts would then protect you from negative influence.
If you have let your subconscious mind run free all day it will be difficult to reel it back in later. and nowadays people just drop of to sleep whenever they feel like it without any preparation whatsoever. And with all the anxiety and fear going around at the moment it is no wonder that people are experiencing such awful sleep.
Avoid any negative thoughts in the moments before bed, preferably hours before. The more you have wasted time in the day by not attempting important goals, or working hard at your development, the more difficult it will be to relax in the evening. There will be too many regrets. So it all starts in the morning.
Many people will freely admit that negative thoughts allowed to accumulate before bed can ruin hours of preparation all through the day. Instead fill yourself with positive thoughts, and lovely inspiring images. You will then wake up feeling regenerated. In this way the whole of the entire day can be seen as preparation for sleep. Personally, this is something I always keep in mind which helps me keep on track with my important work.
Every night before bed make an active effort to think positive thoughts. Set yourself up for this by listening to relaxing music, having a relaxing evening stroll, or reading some pages from an inspiring book. Prepare for sleep as you would prepare for an important exam. Importantly, think about any mistakes you have made so that you will be inspired to correct them the following day. Putting this all into action can be your immediate thought upon waking up. This shows yourself symbolically that you are ready to improve. In this way you will demonstrate to yourself that you are focused and prepared for great work. Having this frame of mind will enhance your sleep greatly so that you wake up energized and motivated, rather than enervated.
If you think sleep is just an unnecessary waste of time it can be helpful to view it differently. Because in fact, sleep prepares us and forges our mind and body into the individual we become the following day. Exercise, study, and work heat us so that we can be put into the blacksmiths mould, figuratively speaking. We then cool overnight and become a strong and stable metal. So make sure you prepare yourself for such an undertaking, so that you can be forged with all sorts of diamonds and precious metals. Looked at differently, sleep is as much an important exercise as physical exercises, and it’s where the learning and development really takes place and are crystallised.
Go to sleep with a great goal in mind so that you feel inspired to relax and calm yourself for the next day. It is this kind of thinking which sets the stage for a good nights sleep. Otherwise you will probably not see the point of sleep. Is there a weakness you are determined to overcome, something you want to achieve? Meditate on this before going to bed every night.
When I competed in Martial arts, I often used to mentally rehearse winning against an opponent. I would imagine myself as a fearless warrior who would take on opponents much better and more intimidating than myself. I did this for years. I wasn’t interested in winning against lesser opponents, I needed a face the hardest challenges. Knowing what I know now I would think about such high intensity scenarios before going to sleep, it’s better to do this kind of thing during the day.
Never go to sleep self satisfied and energised, under the impression that you are tireless and too busy for sleep, that’s my advice. whilst this is sometimes unavoidable for many, you will only burn yourself out in the long run. It is up to your how far you take this principle, but it is true none the less. whilst you want to stick to a routine, it can be more beneficial to prepare yourself properly, even if this involves staying up a bit later than usual.
References
1 See my Active relaxtion for some tips https://harmanater.com/2020/04/27/active-relaxation/
2 See Mans psychic life Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov