Your Body Wants Sleep but Your Brain Wants Chaos: 8 Minute Meditation for Deep Calm

Isn't it strange how we can be so tired all day, but the second we lay down to sleep, our minds go into hyper drive. Some of us experience this kind of anxiety nightly. Where for others, it might be more situational. But there is good news for all of us. We have the power to calm our brains down whenever we need to. Whether it's before bed or a big meeting, we can quiet our minds by checking in with our bodies. A relaxation exercise can help. I'll guide you through one now, which you can turn to whenever you need it. Get in a comfy position. If it feels good, roll your shoulders out, back, and forward. Gently close your eyes, or simply lower your gaze. Take a long, slow, deep breath. In through your nose, and out your mouth. One more. In, and out. On this next one, let's hold the breath for a count of three after inhaling. In, hold, two, three, out. Now we're going to try what's called progressive muscle relaxation. We'll isolate parts of the body one by one to tense them up and then relax them completely. Remember to keep breathing as we do this. And know that all our bodies are different. So do only what feels good to you. You can modify by simply doing belly breaths for anything that may not be available to you. Let's start by bringing your attention to your feet. Scrunch your toes and hold it for a count of 10. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. Release. Move up to your legs. Point your feet. Stretch your ankles and tense up all the muscles in your legs. Hold it for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. Relax. Now to your torso. Tighten your abdomen as if you're trying to sit up straight using these muscles alone. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Relax. And feel your whole torso melt. Now our hands. Make your hands into fists or claws and tense up all the little muscles in them. Holding for 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Relax. And the arms. Stretch your arms out and tense your biceps for 10 counts. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Let them rest. Now breathe into your shoulders and neck. No need to tense them. Just imagine your breath entering those muscles, creating space. And let them relax with each exhale. In. And out. Great job today. Notice if your body feels a little different. Maybe a little more grounded. A little more open. This exercise is available to you whenever you feel anxiety creep in. Or when you just want to unwind. Repeat this after me. Out loud or in your head. I am calm from the inside out. Let's take a final deep breath together. In. And out. Remember, when anxious thoughts creep in, you can let your body lead the way to calm your mind. Open your eyes. Let the day come back into focus. And remember, you got this. —