Anxiety about not getting enough sleep is very common. Maybe you struggle falling asleep or maybe staying asleep. This is quick preview on how to use The Love Your Brain Formula in this exact situation:

The first step is love your brain - acknowledge it is controlling everything.

Having anxiety about sleep is actually a very valid response for the brain. Anxiety is your brain trying to protect you. 

What do you think your brain is trying to protect you from if you aren't getting sleep? 

Maybe You know you need sleep to be functional and have a good day tomorrow. 

Your brain is doing exactly what it's supposed to do! There is nothing wrong with you! Your brain is just responding with its systems and your thoughts.

The second step is optimize your physical brain. Here we could go deep into the habits impacting the health of the brain but I will keep it quick now assuming we are applying at night let's talk about two actionable strategies to use in the moment. 

Two key brain areas in play here are:

• Basal Ganglia (worry, anxiety loops)
• Amygdala (fear, fight/flight)

Natural ways to calm these include:

• deep breathing- through the belly with out-hale being longer than inhale
• hand warming- Visualize your hands are being warmed, maybe by a nice fire or a warm mug
  • Visualizing warm blood flowing into your hands increases parasympathetic nervous system activity, which helps calm the brain. 

 The last step is empower yourself. This is where you can pull from my neuroempowerment tool kit. These tools help you manage your thoughts. 

When you worry about not getting enough sleep, where are your thoughts?

The future! 

So let's bring them back to the present. mindfulness is a tool that brings you back into the present moment.  One way to do this is walk through your 5 senses. If your mind is racing, you may start off fast to keep its attention but gradually it will slow down as you go. Start where you are. 

It could go something like this - I use my fingers to keep count and focus- 

What do I see- i see the darkness and a little light from the street lamp

What do I hear - I hear the air conditioner and my box fan

What do I feel - I wiggle my toes and feel my cozy socks

What do I taste - nothing

What do I smell - I smell the shampoo of my hair

See that was fast but maybe you feel a bit calmer. Try going through them again a little slower, focus more on the sense before moving to the next. Stay just one speed under your brain to slow it down but not too slow or you'll loose your attention.

You might even find a certain sense that keeps your attention best: maybe just stay with that one. The purpose of the tool here is to bring your thoughts to the present. 

Sleep anxiety isn’t weakness—it’s your brain trying to protect you.

But when you learn to understand, support, and guide your brain, you can change it.