It is a paradox so many of us know intimately: you spend all day feeling completely exhausted, yet the moment your head hits the pillow, your mind suddenly springs to life.  You start thinking about something you said earlier, something you need to do tomorrow, or something that happened years ago.   If that sounds familiar – you are not alone. 

During the day our minds are often occupied.  We are working, talking, travelling, looking at our phones, looking after other people and getting through everything that needs to be done.

When things finally become quieter, our minds can suddenly have space for everything we haven’t had time to think about during the day.  Worries, unfinished tasks, conversations and memories can all start competing for our attention.  And if we’re already feeling stressed or anxious our minds can remain alert even though our bodies are tired.

The harder we try to tell ourselves, “Stop thinking, I need to sleep,” the more frustrated and alert we become.

So what might help?

There are a few gentle things you could try. Before you even get into bed, try taking a few minutes to physically put these thoughts, worries, and lingering tasks onto paper. Write down whatever is going through your mind – things to remember, worries, things you need to come back to.  Sometimes telling yourself, “I don’t need to deal with this tonight, I can come back to it tomorrow,” can be enough to give your mind permission to put it down for now.

You can also gently bring your attention away from your thoughts and back to the present.

Notice the feeling of the bed beneath you.

Listen to the sounds around you.

Allow your breathing to slow naturally.

And, when your mind wanders, because it probably will, simply notice it and gently bring your attention back.

The aim isn’t to make your mind completely empty. It’s about giving it something calmer to return to.

Is there anything I can do about this right now?  If there is perhaps write it down for tomorrow.  If there isn’t, you don’t need to solve it tonight.

A busy mind doesn’t always need to be fought with.  Sometimes it needs a little space, a little reassurance, and permission to leave some things until tomorrow.

And if tonight your mind won’t quite switch off, perhaps remember:

Not everything needs an answer before you go to sleep.

If you would prefer to watch or listen, you can also find my video,  Why Won’t My Mind Switch Off? | The Midnight Symphony on the Mosaic Counselling YouTube channel.

Mosaic Counselling
Piecing Lives Together 🌿