Right before you climb into bed with your partner, or say good night to your roommate, what’s the last thing you talk about? If it’s something that gets your anxiety or your anger up, you might be better off switching topics.
Photo by Andrew Roberts.
As advice site The Muse points out, certain topics have a tendency to get our blood boiling. Even if you agree with your conversation partner, talking about how stupid that person online was can work against your goal of relaxing before you go to sleep:
I’m not suggesting that you’re going to suddenly start falling asleep faster if you make an effort to avoid topics (in any format — social media postings included!) before you’re ready to call it a night, but consider the possibility that ending your note on an unarguably positive note might just help you drift off more peacefully.
There will be time in the following day to confront that family member about whatever’s eating you, time for you to read the op-eds on your radar, and a chance to comment on your friend’s divisive Facebook statement. For now, reach for gentler reading material or end on an amiable topic of conversation.
Of course, that’s not to say that you can’t talk about things that are bothering you if those conversations will be a relief. Voicing your emotions is a powerful way to deal with them. If you need some comfort or are generally worried, feel free to speak up. However, if you’re just going to dwell on something outside your control that can wait, give yourself time to rest instead.
3 Ways You’re Doing Your Bedtime Routine All Wrong [The Muse]
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