How to fall asleep

(If you have actual insomnia, this post will smell like telling someone with depression to “cheer up”. This is more for the folks who just want to fall asleep a little faster or go back to sleep when they wake up.)

For me (and most people, it seems), it’s all about distracting my brain from whatever is going on in my life. Here are some options:

• Daydreaming. Think about made up scenarios instead of your actual life. Picture a fantasy world.
• 4-7-8 breathing. Inhale for four counts, hold for seven counts, exhale for eight counts.
• Sleep podcasts. There a bunch. Most of them just talk about boring stuff in a calming voice.
• Counting sounds. Every 18th click is a unique sound. Count them so you can predict it coming.
• Doing math. Pick a random three digit number, and subtract 6 from it over and over.

And of course, exercise and keep your phone out of reach.