Bedtime Stories for Sleep Struggles
“The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight. The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.”
—Julia Cameron
Like 1/3 of adults, I struggle to fall asleep. My story might sound familiar: you lie down and your mind starts racing through the day’s unsolved challenges or tomorrow’s tasks.
One surprisingly helpful aid is bedtime stories. Bedtime stories give your brain something to focus on that isn’t your anxious thoughts about work, responsibilities, or relationships. You pay attention to a slow plot, a soothing voice, or detailed scenery. Eventually, you relax and fall asleep.
I was skeptical of this tactic until I tried it out. I was struggling to sleep for a few hours, and in a moment of desperation, I played a bedtime story on the Muse app about flying on a magic carpet. I was surprised to wake up the next day to see I had fallen asleep in 7 minutes.
You can find bedtime stories in popular meditation apps Calm and Headspace. You can also find free podcasts like Get Sleepy or listen to classic books in audio to lull you to sleep.
—Erik Pavia, CEO
Related Resources
Here’s a list of 15 podcasts to help you fall asleep
Audible recommends children’s stories like Matilda, Harry Potter, and Sherlock Holmes
The Muse S is a meditation device with meditations to help you sleep. You can read our review discussing the Muse 2 and the Muse S.
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