My Unexpected Secret to Getting A Good Night Sleep Every Day

Think back to the countless times you lay awake in bed overthinking. Overthinking about earlier during the day: did you decide to put off your work? Or did you do something that you later regretted? You may be overthinking about the future. Do you have enough savings to pay the rent? Or what will you say during your first date?

Whatever it may be, it ties back to one word: dissatisfaction

My boxing coach once said this:

“People stay awake at night because they are not satisfied with their day.”

(which I later heard once again in the anime Call Of The Night)

Being dissatisfied with your day is the most potent weapon your mind has to keep you awake at night. Whether it is thinking about the past or the future, it is because you believe that you have not accomplished enough that you are satisfied for the day.

Observation

Have you noticed that it is harder to fall asleep when you have a deadline or goal coming up in the near future? Just thinking about each step of the process can keep you up at night.

But why is that?

Your mind unintentionally conjures up a list of tasks that are yet to be done. Thus, it tricks your brain into thinking it is not done for the day — your mind is dissatisfied for the day. Thus, you use your thoughts to churn through the tasks mentally, keeping you awake.

Solution

The most effective solution that helped me tremendously was to create a comprehensive daily tasks list.

The idea behind the tasks list is to identify what you need to get done in a day so that you feel satisfied at the end of the day. Then, you want to write each of the tasks down in a checklist form so that it is easy for you to check them off the list. Doing so will do three things:

1. It allows you to identify all of the necessary tasks needed to be done in a day, which is also good for productivity
2. After checking everything off, it subconsciously informs your mind that your day is completed and it is time for bed
3. I plan out most of my day so that I am constantly working, meaning I am always tired when bedtime comes

There’s more!

Do note that I phrased the sentence, “Identify what you need to get done in a day so that you feel satisfied at the end of the day,” using the word satisfied. I’m sure many people already have a task list to organize their day, but if it isn't satisfying to exclaim to the world that you are done for the day, then it won’t help with your insomnia.

Do work that is meaningful to you.

For example, my daily tasks list will almost always consist of:

• writing online content
• writing my book
• gym
• homework
• reading
• daily chores

Over time, my brain has been programmed to understand that once I have checked every item off my list, I am done for the day. Everything else I manage to get done is a bonus. My list is designed to be this way because it is what I find meaningful and satisfying towards my goals. I encourage you to do the same, and you will never have a sleepless night ever again.

That is the end of the article. If you found it helpful for your sleep, be sure to clap and follow me for more health and wellness-related content. Cheers!