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At night my mind won’t stop

Eva, all day I’m fine. But as soon as I turn off the light, my mind starts racing.

I think about money, work, my family’s health, things I can’t change at that moment. And every night I fall asleep later and later.

How do I stop it?

Hi. What you’re describing is one of the most common things people write to me. The mind waits for everything else to quiet down, so it can finally take its own turn.

Try giving it an appointment earlier. An hour before bed, sit for ten minutes with a piece of paper and write down everything that’s on your mind, and next to each thing a small next step or the word “tomorrow”.

“What’s been written on paper doesn’t need to keep you awake.”

If you wake up with thoughts, don’t fight with them. Get up for a bit, with a dim light, and go back when you feel sleepy. You can also try the breathing exercise on our home page.

If this goes on for weeks or you also feel physical symptoms, like a racing heart, talk to your doctor. It’s not an overreaction; it’s taking care of yourself.
With warmth, Eva

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