“Don’t take your phone to bed.”
That’s good advice—most of the time. But I’ve discovered one exception that’s been a complete game changer for me, especially lately when falling asleep feels harder than it should. I recently got honest with a dear friend about my struggle with sleep. Without hesitation, he recommended a YouTube channel from Lauren Ostrowski Fenton. (You’ll find her if you search Lauren Deep Sleep Meditation). Lauren, and dozens of others, offer free guided meditations designed specifically to help your mind slow down and your body relax so that you can go to sleep. Listening to Lauren has been a welcomed addition to my nightly routine.
If you decide to try it, use the timer on your phone.
- Choose how long you want the meditation to play
- I set mine for 25 minutes
- Scroll to the bottom of the timer settings and select “Stop Playing” That way, the audio gently fades out once you’re likely asleep. No worries of remembering to turn it off and it doesn’t interfere with your alarm.
Something interesting happened after I started listening to Lauren’s sleep meditations. YouTube thought if I liked her, I’d like Jason Stephenson’s Positive Mind Affirmations. Just a calm voice, quietly reinforcing positive thoughts. I have always believed in positive affirmations, but it never occurred to me to listen to someone else’s affirmations!
If you’ve followed Front-Row Friday for a while, you know I talk a lot about how I begin my day with gratitude first thing in the morning, before email, before texts, before the noise of the world. That practice sets the tone for a positive day.
Now I’ve added something just as powerful. I’m ending my day the same way—calm, positive, intentional. Bookending your day with positive messages is a great way to have a positive mental attitude and live your life in the front-row.
Two simple habits can make a real difference:
- Get quality sleep, especially with calming meditations or affirmations
- Wake up with gratitude, before the world gets your attention
So if sleep has been elusive lately, consider this your Front-Row nudge. Try something soothing tonight. Let your mind rest. And give yourself permission to end the day well.
Happy Front-Row Friday!
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
