Creating a Sleep Bliss Bubble
On nights when the swirling thoughts won’t stop, audiobooks redirect my thoughts away from stress and toward peaceful sleep.
Feelings deserve to be acknowledged, nurtured, and explored, but not when it’s time for rest and sleep. We all need rest, so bedtime’s not the time to feel my feelings. (That’s what my Morning Reset Rituals are for.)
Audiobooks have been the key to shutting off unhelpful thoughts or Shame Attacks to allow my mind and body to rest for a better day tomorrow.
First, I shut down the day with my Evening Rest Rituals. Spritz some lavender water on my pillow and prepare to play dead.
Playing Dead
On days when I’m overstimulated and simply cannot muster another ounce of energy for anyone or anything, I head to bed a little early whether I’m sleepy or not and play dead.
Playing dead means I turn in when it’s close enough to bed time to be passable and just want to be left alone. I announce to the fam that I’m going to bed, then I snuggle down with my audiobook and pretend to sleep. Usually, I’m undisturbed. Well, sometimes.
No Interruptions
I play audiobooks on my iPad, which doesn’t have anything for work or phone notifications. I never look at texts, emails, social media, or my calendar on my iPad. I only use it for entertainment and relaxation, and I put my phone out of sight.
Headband-style Headphones
A comfortable headphone/sleep-mask combo is key, and since I”m a side sleeper, a head-band style with flat speakers is best. These are easy to find on Amazon like the one pictured above, and the cost ranges from $15-40.
I can’t recommend specific headphones because I’ve bought at least five over the years (they don’t last forever). They all had plus and minus signs on the control panel, but not all of them had volume control. This is key: you need to be able to adjust the volume without moving from a comfortable position. I suggest reading the reviews to find out.
They’re also amazing for creating a Bliss Bubble during travel whether you’re on a plane or to create a home-like sleep environment in a hotel.
Sleep Timer
I’m a light sleeper, so I set the sleep timer. I think all audiobook players have sleep timers, but this is something to think about it you enjoy sleeping to music or podcasts.
I come from a long line of sleep listeners. My Granmary (maternal grandmother) listened to talk radio all night long; my mom did the same until podcasts came onto the scene. As for me, the sound will wake me back up if the sleep timer isn’t set.
Okay, the Bliss Bubble is set, in my next article I’ll describe the types of books that make peaceful “reads.”
Read: My Ingredients for a Cozy Audiobook (with Recommendations)
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I have this too, I love it!