Mediation for Insomnia: Proven Techniques

You must have heard fancy things about meditation and how it helps calm the mind and relax the body. Now it has been found that those who meditate regularly are the world’s best sleepers. In fact, they are so good at sleeping that if sleep was a race their home would be full of medals and trophies. It has now been backed by scientific research that meditation indeed

A large section of the population suffers from sleep disorders, mainly insomnia. Not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep is one of the major reasons why people go about the day tired, groggy, and confused. It’s also why excessive daytime sleepiness occurs and interferes with normal activities. Insomnia is the primary cause of daytime sleepiness, and if left untreated, it can also be the cause of accidents and other fatalities.

Many people tend to think that insomnia doesn’t have a cure, but actually it does. Instead of popping sleeping pills or resorting to other artificial means for inducing sleep, making some lifestyle changes and adopting healthy habits treat insomnia naturally. Meditation is one such healthy habit that promotes sleep by calming the brain and inducing relaxation.

Let’s take a look at the four key ways in which meditation promotes better sleep.

1. Strengthen the sleeping brain

There’s a part of the brain that is directly responsible for sleep quality because it produces melatonin – the chemical that induces sleep. When this region of the brain is weak, it will prevent you from getting the amount of sleep that you need. If this is the cause of your insomnia, strengthening this key region in the brain is the cure. And meditation is the most important way to make this region of the brain stronger, remove abnormalities, and bring restful sleep.

2. Boost melatonin

As we already know, melatonin is the sleep chemical. The more melatonin your brain produces, the more your nighttime sleep will be. Those suffering from insomnia usually have lower levels of melatonin, therefore boosting this chemical before bedtime leads to better sleep. In a Harvard study, it was found that meditation is the ultimate melatonin booster because it lowered stress and balanced all the biological markers for quality sleep. Those who meditate enjoy a 98 percent boost in melatonin levels, resulting in better sleep, night after night. Boosting melatonin with the help of meditation instead of supplements is the healthier way to quality sleep.

3. Lower beta brainwaves

Insomnia is caused when there is an excess of beta brainwaves, the mental state in chronic anxiety and depression. When you meditate, you not only calm your mental activity but also boost alpha, theta, and delta brainwaves to induce sleep. These brainwaves cancel out the insomnia brainwaves, ensuring that you get restful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.

4. Beat stress and worries

When you meditate, your mind enters a place of calm and peace. The mindfulness learned during meditation brings us to the present, making the brain stop worrying because the day is over and tomorrow is not here yet. This process of being present in the moment and being aware of your body and your thoughts is often the best and most effective way to calm your mind and fall asleep quickly. This is also a good way to retrain the brain and make it ready for bed. Doing this every night promotes a proper sleep cycle.

Instead of putting up with sleepless nights, try to practice some deep breathing and meditation. Download a guided meditation track on your phone or sign up for a meditation class to slowly master this simple yet highly beneficial habit.