For months, I struggled to find peace at night, my mind constantly racing while my body begged for rest. I tried everything, but nothing worked. Then, one night, a simple online search led me to a solution I never expected.
I remember the days when I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. That was before the kids came along: when life was simpler, with no separation from Penn and fewer complications. Now, as a single mom to two little ones under five, sleep has become a distant dream: no pun intended.
A woman lying awake in her bed at night | Source: Midjourney
Most nights, I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening for the slightest sound from Jake or Ella. My body is constantly on high alert, ready to jump out of bed at any moment. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to shut off my brain and just sleep.
“Mommy, you look so tired,” Jake told me one morning, his little hand tugging at my sleeve as I sat at the kitchen table, trying to muster the energy to start the day.
I forced a smile. “Mommy just hasn’t been sleeping well, sweetie.”
A woman talking to her little son at the kitchen table | Source: Midjourney
But it wasn’t just a rough night here or there. It had been months since I’d slept through the night without waking up multiple times. I tried everything: counting sheep, meditation, even those herbal teas that promise a good night’s sleep. But nothing worked.
One night, while waiting for a team call at my remote job, I found myself aimlessly scrolling through Reddit. I typed, “How to fall asleep fast?” into the search bar, not expecting to find anything useful. But what I discovered ended up changing everything.
A woman using her laptop late at night | Source: Midjourney
1. My Brother’s Secret to Sleep
The first post that caught my attention was a simple exchange between a user and their 16-year-old brother. The user had asked him how he managed to fall asleep so quickly, and his response was amusing and intriguing.
“The trick is a clean conscience. I got nothing to think about,” he had said.
“But how do you not think about anything?” the user asked, clearly baffled.
“I don’t know… I just stop thinking,” the brother replied with the kind of nonchalance only a teenager could muster.
A smiling teenage boy sitting with his eyes closed | Source: Pexels
2. The Art of Clearing Your Mind
Another user shared a method that was a bit more detailed and seemed like it could actually work. They had started by not thinking and had to train themselves to completely clear their mind.
They cut off inner monologues, imagined being born deaf, and thought primarily in images. They moved on to focusing on their feelings and tuning out those sensations.
“In the beginning, my primary goal was to relieve stress through meditation, but it ended up being a useful way to fall asleep. I don’t remember the last time I woke up in the middle of the night. The only downside is that I sleep like the dead and never dream. I just close my eyes as if to blink, and when I open them again, it’s morning,” the user explained.
A man sleeping peacefully in bed | Source: Pexels
3. Living Without Regrets
One post resonated on a deeper level with me. It came from someone who had learned to live without regrets, and that mindset had transformed their sleep.
“I’ve learned to live with no [regrets] so there’s nothing to worry about when my mind relaxes. Every decision I ever made was the right one at that time. Or at least it was what I wanted, so there’s no point in stressing about it now,” the user shared.
A man in green pants and a hat sitting on a bed | Source: Pexels
I thought about my separation from Penn. It had been one of the hardest decisions of my life, and even though I knew it was the right choice, the guilt and doubt still haunted me at night. Could I learn to accept my past decisions and let go of the what-ifs?
4. The Power of a Sleep Ritual
Another piece of advice that caught my eye was about the importance of a sleep ritual.
“I wear a sleep mask, and I think putting it on is part of the ritual that tells my brain that it’s bedtime,” one user wrote.
A woman wearing a sleep mask in bed | Source: Pexels
I had never thought about creating a bedtime ritual before, but it made sense. Maybe a routine like that could help signal to my body and mind that it was time to shut down.
5. The Sudden Sleep Trick
A user shared a story about their friend who could fall asleep within seconds, and I found myself envying that ability.
“We’ll be playing video games, then he’ll suddenly say he’s tired, and goodnight. Literally seconds later, I can hear him snoring in his room,” the user wrote.
A man snoring in his bed while sleeping at night | Source: Midjourney
6. Embracing the Ability to Sleep Instantly
Someone else talked about how they had always been able to sleep instantly and how they were often teased for it growing up.
“Seeing as how I’m in the minority of people, I must assume that would be because of envy? I’m not sure if other people like me are like this, but I don’t have an inner monologue that distracts from my sleep time,” they explained.
A woman lying in bed with her eyes closed | Source: Pexels
7. Imagining a New World
Another user had an interesting approach that involved using their imagination to fall asleep.
“The best trick I’ve found when I don’t fall asleep easily is to put myself in a movie. Like, imagine yourself walking through the gates of Hogwarts. What happens next? All is up to you, and just let your imagination flow. Eventually, you’ll fall asleep without realizing it,” they suggested.
A closeup of a spell book placed beside potions | Source: Pexels
8. Meditative Sleep
A user described a meditation method they had learned in a yoga class, and it sounded like a methodical approach that could work.
“Lay flat on your back, take deep breaths through your nose. As you exhale, mentally relax each muscle group starting with your face and working down to your toes. Try to imagine exhaling through your muscles and out through your toes. Imagine your body slowly melting into your bed,” they explained.
A woman seems relaxed while lying in bed | Source: Pexels
“Next, imagine a river as vividly as possible. It helps if you use one from memory. I personally combine scenes from ‘The River Wild’ movie with memories from a family trip to the Green River. Picture yourself walking out to the middle of the river and let yourself get lost in the flow around you.”
“Try to visualize any stray thoughts floating toward you on the river. As you think of things, set them in the water and watch them float away.”
A woman waking on a riverbank by a mountain | Source: Pexels
9. The Doer vs. The Thinker
Another person described the differences between themselves and their partner when it came to sleep, and I found it incredibly relatable.
“I’m a doer; he is a thinker. Worrying about stuff keeps him up at night, whereas I go to bed with the reassurance that I’ve done all I can do that day, and que sera, sera,” they wrote.
“He brings his phone to bed and browses Reddit, whereas I’m strictly no screens an hour before bed. Other than bringing the phone to bed, he has no routine.”
A man using his phone while sitting on his bed at night | Source: Pexels
“By about 9:30, I’m winding down with my skincare routine, washing up, making a hot drink, and then in bed with a book by 10:15 at the latest. I’m pretty physically tired by the time I hit the pillow.”
Finding My Sanctuary
After reading these stories, I knew it was time to make a change. That night, as I lay in bed, I decided to try something different. I closed my eyes and began to imagine a place that was mine and mine alone: an imaginary world where everything was calm and safe.
I pictured myself walking through a beautiful garden, the kind that only exists in fairy tales, with vibrant flowers and soft, golden light. I imagined myself sitting on a bench under a tall oak tree where the air was fresh, and the world was silent.
A woman looks happy while sitting on a bench under a tree | Source: Midjourney
As I focused on this world, I felt my body begin to relax. The tension in my shoulders eased, and the constant chatter in my mind started to fade away.
“Michelle,” I whispered to myself, almost as if reassuring a younger version of me, “everything is okay. You’re safe here.”
I let out a deep breath, sinking deeper into the comfort of my bed. The garden in my mind felt so real and soothing that I could almost smell the flowers.
Before I knew it, I was asleep.
A woman sleeping peacefully at night | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, I woke up to the soft sunlight streaming through my window. I felt different: lighter, rested in a way I hadn’t been in months. As I stretched and sat up, I couldn’t help but smile. I had actually slept through the night.
Jake came running into my room, his face full of excitement. “Mommy! Did you sleep well last night?”
A little boy looks happy while standing in a room and looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
I grinned at him, feeling more awake and alive than I had in ages. “Believe it or not, sweetie, I really did. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
Ella, who had followed Jake into the room, clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Yay, Mommy! You did it!”
Jake joined in, cheering with his sister. “Go, Mommy! Go, Mommy!”
Their joy was infectious, and I laughed, pulling them both into a big hug. “Thanks, you two. I think I found my secret to good sleep.”
A woman laughs with her two little kids at home | Source: Midjourney
As the days went by, I refined this practice, adding new details to my imaginary world and making it a place where I could retreat whenever I needed rest. It became my sanctuary, a place where nothing could disturb me, not even the noise of my thoughts.
In that space, I found the peace I had been searching for. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I started to believe that a good night’s sleep was not just possible but within my reach.
A woman looks happy and energetic while sitting at home | Source: Midjourney
Take a look at another relatable narrative: When Aiden’s wife walked out on him during his darkest hour, he was consumed by anger and thoughts of revenge. But what he discovered online led him down a path he never expected, ultimately changing his life for the better.
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