How to calm your mind and be less anxious.

Anxiety is VERY common in the UK - with over 8 million people suffering from it and an estimated 822,000 workers affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety each year. Unfortunately, anxiety and stress-related thoughts are the most common before bed, when we should be relaxing and entering dreamland.  

Why do we get anxious at night?  

Anxiety is very normal - let's get that one thing clear! However, anxiety likes to linger around for longer than usual when it comes to nighttime. But why is this? 

Stressing during the daytime puts your body into overdrive, affecting your hormones and adrenal system so sleep problems are likely to occur if you're worrying throughout the day.  

Unfortunately, there's not one specific reason why you might be getting more anxious at night. However, it's likely due to the lack of distractions. Have you ever randomly decided you were going to change your life at 3 am? It's like that but quite the opposite.  

 There are a few reasons why you might be feeling anxious at night, such as: 

• daily stress  
• too much caffeine 
• trauma 
• poor sleeping habits 
• health conditions 
• ignoring anxious thoughts for too long  

Write it all down .

When the thoughts get too much, it's worth offloading them into a sleep journal. A sleep journal can help you get any worries off your mind to sleep. Through affirmations or mental health journalling, you can write down absolutely anything that comes to you throughout the day. With our End of Day Wellness Journal, you can reduce stress and anxiety through semi-guided pages. Following the psychological principles outlined in the notepad, you can elevate your mood which is key to getting restful sleep.  

Practice relaxation 

Everybody has their ways to relax - maybe it's meditating, reading a book, masturbating or calling a friend. Doing one or more of these things before you go to bed can help distract any anxious thoughts you might possess. 

You can even accompany your relaxation time with a sleep candle, the blend of essential oils which can help get you ready for a long night of sleep! 

Ask yourself "Will it matter in a year?" 

If the answer is no, then you definitely shouldn't be losing sleep over it! Worry about the things you're able to change and watch most of your worries ease within time...  

Schedule time to worry 

This might seem counterproductive to stop worrying, but lots of people schedule time out of their day to worry. Worrying at inconvenient times of the day can throw your productivity out of the window, so finding time to worry and then move on can help you realise how little it matters.  

A journaling routine can really help with this.

Put your phone away 

Although it seems like a good distraction for anxious thoughts, all it does is make you stay awake for even longer than you should. The blue light from your phone signals your brain to stay awake. Try to turn off all electronics and close your eyes or properly relax in a dimly lit room.

If you think you might be suffering from anxiety and don't know how to ease it, please see a professional.  

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.