Did you know that going to bed in a positive mood can help you to wake up happier? Apparently, it can help you to get a better night’s sleep. This means you wake up feeling more refreshed and in a better mood.
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
You go to bed in a bad mood. You don’t fall asleep right away because your mind is going a mile a minute about whatever was bothering you. Then you toss and turn and maybe you have nightmares, or maybe you don’t fall asleep at all. Either way, morning comes and you feel worse than when you went to bed. You’re run down, still tired, and miserable.
After my trauma, this was me EVERY morning! I was so wrapped up in all of my problems that a good night’s sleep was impossible, meaning I was never fully rested. Moving through my days like a zombie, sore and agitated, became normal. It was exhausting and frustrating and overall not great for my healing journey or even just for living a normal life.
Then my husband changed everything.
One night as we were getting into bed, Tom pulled me close and asked me what my favorite part of the day was. It was such a simple question, but I had to think about my answer. I went over my day, pulling the good moments to the front of my mind so that I could pick the best one. I told him with a smile and then he told me his before telling me how much he loved me. That night, I actually fell asleep reasonably quick, and more importantly, I stayed asleep.
The simple practice of thinking about the positive parts of my day helped put my mind at ease. I started focusing on the good things instead of the bad. This actually made my body physically relax which helped me fall asleep. I woke up feeling more like myself than I had in a LONG time.
Practice makes perfect.
This isn’t a one and done thing. It’s not like you can do it one night and suddenly you’re cured and you will sleep great from now on. But the good thing is that it’s easy to do, so doing it every night isn’t a lot of work. Tom and I have made it a point to ask each other every single night before bed for the last three years, “What was your favorite part of today?” The lights are usually out by the time that we do this, but I can hear the happiness in his voice as he tells me his and I can’t help but smile when I tell him mine.
It’s amazing the difference a positive thought can make.
Many studies, therapists and self care websites recommend gratitude practices daily in order to live a happier life. I am fully on board with that. In fact, I have a dedicated journal where each day, I write down something I am grateful for. I feel like this little nightly activity falls along the same thought practice. It all comes down to thinking about the positive.
It might not work every single night. There are still going to be times when you toss and turn and wake up still tired. But even if it only works once in a while, isn’t it worth trying? Let me know if it works for you!
What was your favorite part of the day?
And of course, a reminder that if you need a little extra support, I’m your girl. I offer one on one coaching as well as a free facebook community for support. You can check get more info by clicking the links. (And of course feel free to reach out to me with any additional questions!)
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