There are many ways to get a good night’s sleep, and one way is through meditation. It can help you to relax, reduce stress, and decrease your cortisol levels – the hormone that makes it hard to fall asleep.
Youtube has a variety of guided sleep meditations you can listen to before bed. These videos usually combine imagery, body scanning, soothing sounds, and relaxing music to help you unwind.
This 10-minute Yoga Nidra video is great for promoting overall relaxation and getting you ready for a restful sleep. It uses a body scan technique that guides you to focus on parts of your body and let go of negative thoughts without judging them.
Another great guided meditation for sleeping is this calming recording of ocean waves and relaxation music. Its mellow voice and intermittent affirmations will put you to sleep in no time.
You can also try a more traditional sleep meditation using binaural beats (which are used in sleep aids) and sound therapy to ease your mind into deep relaxation. Research suggests that these audio-only sleep tools can help your body to relax and prepare for a restful sleep, so you’re sure to drift off into the land of nod quickly.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favourite videos for you to practice at home or on your phone before sleep, from mindfulness meditations that are a good fit for everyone, to guided sleep meditations that are perfect for those with a bit more experience.