Relaxation and Sleep During Stressful Times
Stress. Anxiety. Worry. Disquietude. Whatever you call them, many of us have been closed in the house with these monsters as our close companions for these past weeks and now months. Many others have been carrying the beasts around on their backs as they go out and confront possible danger to do their essential work every day.
Now we’re grappling with constantly conflicting thoughts. Are my family and I safer continuing to stay in and avoid exposure to COVID-19? Shouldn’t I get back out there and make a living so I can take care of my responsibilities? If we open up too soon, will there be a second outbreak of the virus? If we don’t get back to normal soon, will we destroy our economy? Am I being a frightened rabbit not wanting to go out? Am I a bad and reckless person for wanting to get back to normal?
You may find you’re firmly on one side or the other of this debate. Or you may find yourself feeling all of the above. Swinging from one side to the other, depending on where your emotions and fears carry you from one minute to the next.
One thing is for sure. All these new and intense fears are not good for us. And they’re absolutely, positively not at all good for our sleep.
It’s Not All Bad News…There’s Free Help!
Fortunately, we live in a time of plentiful resources available online, and many of them are being offered for free during this distressing time. Here’s just a sampling of some free stuff, along with some paid options too.
Calm
Calm is a subscription service with a free 7-day trial, but for the duration of the pandemic they are providing free access to a generous array of audios and videos. Ranging from Sleep Meditations and Sleep Stories, to Soundscapes to Calm Body movement videos and even audios specifically for kids, there’s sure to be something for everyone to feel calmer and find some relief. You can try their offerings on their website or the app.
Headspace
Headspace is another subscription service with both website and app access. Their main focus is on meditation, and right now they have a selection of free articles, audios and videos available. They also have specific help for healthcare professionals and educators.
The Guided Meditation Site
This is a personal favorite of mine, and I’ve been enjoying their audios for several years now. You can purchase downloadable MP3 audios on their website of relaxing music and guided meditations, but they also feature a nice selection of free information, audios and downloads as well. Check out their YouTube channel for both short and longer meditation videos to try for free.
Breathe2Relax
Slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing calms the mind and the body and short-circuits stress reactions that make you feel tense and out of control. It sounds easy, but sometimes we need a little help executing that simple process. That’s where Breathe2Relax comes in. This free app for Android and iOS lets you quickly customize the breathing exercise you need right at any given moment.
Pray
This interfaith subscription app and website, pray.com, encourages you to enroll in their 7-day free trial right off the bat. But a little exploring and you will find they have some freebies on offer for sampling, including bedtime stories not just for kids, but some for adults too. You’ll also find meditative prayers, bible meditations, inspirational stories and prayer plans. The founders of Pray.com come from a Judeo-Christian background, but they want it to be for anyone who prays of any faith.
These are only a few of the most popular resources you’ll find out there for help getting back to a more relaxed and centered frame of mind. If you explore a little, you’ll find many more helpful offerings. Let us know if you find anything interesting and what your favorites are at support@sleepsatisfaction.com!