This week, after a particularly wretched night's sleep, I decided to investigate the relationship between technology and insomnia - from both a professional and a personal point of view. I wanted to know more about the science of sleep, whether tech was a help or a hindrance, and also to seek some advice on battling my own insomnia.
Hi Rory, thanks for the newsletter, always make a point of reading the posts. I find that triggering my most relaxing memories helps me when occasionally I have this problem. As you say, it's about calming the mind. In my case it's usually a memory lying on a beach in the warm sun with the waves lapping around...
The part about not trying to go to sleep unless you are actually sleepy made me think a bit.
I am single these days, and my bed has become my "nest." It is a comfortable place to sit and watch a movie, or do a bit of proof-reading (lots of that going on with 11 books to sort out), and so on.
But I now wonder if that is not such a good thing. Perhaps I need somewhere else to do those things, and then keep the bed just for sleeping.
I have other issues, physical ones, that are messing with my sleep, so there won't be a single, simple solution, but any improvement would be welcome!
Hi Rory, A very interesting Newsletter. It would be interesting to see how effective therapy via an app is versus face to face sessions with a therapist. Maybe if you don’t get the results you hope for via the app you could try comparing it to sessions with a therapist.
I like the idea of making one's brain relearn the association between bed and sleep.
ICYMI, Nick Littlehales' short book Sleep - drawing on experiences with optimizing athletes' performance - has some good insights.
Hi Rory - have you come across David Baddiel's 6 part podcast Sleeping with David Baddiel .
He and neurologist/sleep expert Guy Leschener (sp?) try to solve his insomnia.
It's a good listen https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sleeping-with-David-Baddiel-Podcast/B08GCD7SR3
Hi Rory, thanks for the newsletter, always make a point of reading the posts. I find that triggering my most relaxing memories helps me when occasionally I have this problem. As you say, it's about calming the mind. In my case it's usually a memory lying on a beach in the warm sun with the waves lapping around...
The part about not trying to go to sleep unless you are actually sleepy made me think a bit.
I am single these days, and my bed has become my "nest." It is a comfortable place to sit and watch a movie, or do a bit of proof-reading (lots of that going on with 11 books to sort out), and so on.
But I now wonder if that is not such a good thing. Perhaps I need somewhere else to do those things, and then keep the bed just for sleeping.
I have other issues, physical ones, that are messing with my sleep, so there won't be a single, simple solution, but any improvement would be welcome!
Hi Rory, A very interesting Newsletter. It would be interesting to see how effective therapy via an app is versus face to face sessions with a therapist. Maybe if you don’t get the results you hope for via the app you could try comparing it to sessions with a therapist.