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Make things better by making better things.
It’s impossible for humans to focus on two separate thoughts at the same time. We can switch between them quite rapidly but cannot hold them simultaneously.
We can also use this to our advantage. Perhaps the best tip I have ever heard on sleeping is to put on something that can occupy that space of thought while trying to sleep or when you wake up in the middle of the night.
Some people will put on old television show episodes, but for me, the best thing has been listening to audiobooks by Pema Chodron. If you have a partner you don’t want to wake, use headphones and have it cued up before going to bed.
Remember, there’s no button to force sleep. You can’t control it or turn it on. You must perform it by “faking it until you make it.” It’s an act of surrender. Looking at the time, looking at the screen, stressing about the process, or worrying about how little you are getting…all make it worse. Sleep is truly the practice of letting go. This is a very difficult lesson for all of us.