I am fascinated by the subject of sleep and dreams. I hope that I have some time later in life to do some research and experimentation on this subject.
Luckily, I never have a problem falling asleep. I use the following three techniques and find them quite useful. While the first two are fairly common, I don't know any one who has tried the third - in fact I have not heard of it elsewhere. But it works for me unfailingly.
1. Progressive relaxation: This is similar to a technique used to enter shavasan, as far as I know. Start with the toes - tense them for a few seconds, relax them to the point that they no longer exist for you. Then the middle of the foot - tense and then relax and imagine it no longer exists. Then the back of the foot, the ankle, and so on up the body. By the time I get to the neck and start up the back of my head, I am so peaceful and relaxed that I fall asleep. I have NEVER finished the entire exercise and found myself awake. The sleep you get in this way is usually deep and restful.
2. Blackening out your vision: I close my eyes and then begin imaginarily layering black paint across the back of my closed eyelids starting at the top left. One band from left to right and the next band a little lower from right to left and then the next a little lower from left to right again and so on, a little like raster scanning in traditional CRT televisions and monitors. This too never fails to put me to sleep. The sleep is light though and it takes some time for you to fall into a deep sleep.
3. Flashing images ("Imagening"): This is my own invention and it works the fastest. I just close my eyes and generate random images in my mind - perhaps a crow, a book, a horse, a car - it is important that they are as randomly selected as possible, right at that point in time. I keep each image in my mind about 2-3 seconds, which gives my eyeballs some time to trace a part of its outline in the act of "seeing", then I just think of another image and "see" it in my mind for 2-3 seconds, then the next image, and so on. After perhaps the third or fourth image, the images start to flash involuntary (i.e. I am not consciously deciding which picture to flash next) and right away some dream plot begins to evolve and I am asleep... mostly in less than a minute, often in 15 or 20 seconds! This sleep is most dreamy although not very deep.
Do you have any favorite techniques of your own to fall asleep?
8 comments:
Gudmorning sir
Talking about my favorite techniques. i m following third one as yew explained ,mysterious thing for me is that today i realize how i fallen to sleep every night .
thank you for discussing sir
reagards
Prasoon kalantri
fall,09
Good evening sir,
Wonderful blog.This blog helps a lot in solving one of the most problem faced by professionals.
Thank You
Regards
Pawan Pandey
Fall,08
Respected Sir,
I believe that, taking GOD's name while falling asleep is the best technique that works for me as it completely rejuvenates me the next day I wake up... This is really soothing....... One must try this.... [if one is a theist :)]
Dear Sir,
Yes I too have a technique which I use almost everyday on bed. This is similar to your first technique. I always sleep straight, when I lay on bed, I close my eyes, take a deep breath and then exhale my breath through mouth simultaneously pronouncing the word 'OM'. I do this 4-5 times, after this when I stop, my body automatically starts taking deep breaths.........
Cant tell what happens after that, as I have never been awake to witness the story (on a lighter note).
Regards,
Mayank Umraode
Hetvee, I am not a theist but I used to use this technique too - used to recite the Gayatri Mantra :-)
Respected Sir,
Recently, I have developed this technique of writing my daily observations and experiences. Before going to sleep I write 1-2 pages on crucial issues. These observations can be anything that I like the most during that day. It may be an article on the blog post or any small incident that happen in the class.This gives me calmness.
Regards,
Richa Rai
Fall 2008 batch
Respected Sir,
A good sleep is a blessing, which wash away all our pain, sorrow and tension. Thank you for sharing these useful techniques with us.
I start counting till 100 in order to sleep, this technique has always worked for me.
Regards
PROTON Sarabjeet Singh
Wow, I never thought that there are techniques for getting sleep also.
I have always struggled a lot to get sleep, especially when I am sick, Because at that time because of madicine's effect i sleep a lot in the day time, and at night, I find it difficult to get a proper sleep.
Tonight I will try them, and I hope that, I will not be able to try more than one tonight.
Thanks a lot Sir, for sharing so valuable techniques with us.
Regards,
Proton Manish Balwani
Ahmedabad Campus
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