Teacher Insomnia: 12 All-Natural Tips

Teachers and insomnia go hand in hand…  

 …especially at the start of the school year.  Even the most seasoned and organized teacher has a million thoughts racing through the brain, making it hard to quiet down.

There’s no cure-all for insomnia.  But I’m posting 12 of my best all-natural tips. 

1)      See a doctor if you're worried, to rule out serious physical causes.  Worrying about your insomnia can worsen it.

2)      Meditate during the day, even if it’s only for a minute at a time.  Less stress during the day will help you sleep at night.

3)      Stop drinking 2 hours before sleep.  A full bladder will keep you awake.

4)      Block all lights and sounds from clocks, computers, and other electronics.  They can keep you from drifting off to sleep.

5)      Have a pad, pen and flashlight at your bedside.  If a school idea pops into your head, write it down, so it doesn’t keep you up.

6)      Listen to relaxing music.  Loop it softly on your MP3 player.  It helps shut off your teacher’s voice.  My favorite: guitar music or hypnotic counting songs.

7)      Be aware of body tension.  Briefly rub your shoulders, twist your ankles, or pull your jaw gently down and side to side.  Gently stick your tongue out and downward, and slowly stretch it from side to side; relax and repeat.

8)      Massage your face.

9)      Lay a soft sock across your eyes.  Even better, fill it with a small bag of uncooked lentils or rice.  The weight relaxes the eye muscles and face.

10)  Breathe deeply and slowly.  Keep focused on your breathing.

11)  Repeat a phrase (slowly and silently), like “Sleep” or “Go away…” to block out other thoughts.

12)  Open and close your eyes slowly, every few seconds.  Increase the intervals till you fall asleep.

…and have sweet dreams!