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Stress
Reducing Technique for Better Sleep #2: Brainstorming!
One of sleep's worst enemies is stress. A stressed body and
mind do not sleep, or at least not well.
People
feel unhealthy, sleep-robbing stress levels when they believe
that they are faced with a situation that they cannot handle.
In other words, they feel overwhelmed because they believe
that they have a problem with no solution.
As I mentioned here,
nearly every problem, even gargantuan ones, has at least one
solution. Finding the solution is not always easy, however.
Brainstorming to the rescue!
If you don't currently use brainstorming to find solutions
to your problems, then you're really missing out on an invaluable
tool. I use brainstorming at least once a week to help me
with a problem, and virtually every time it provides me with
a solution that I would not have otherwise considered.
Brainstorming is a mental exercise in which you come up with
and write down as many solutions to a problem that you can
think of. Doing it correctly, and therefore effectively, requires
following these rules:
- Set
a timer for 10 minutes.
- Write
your problem that you would like to solve at the top of
your paper.
- Start
writing solutions in the form of words or phrases down the
page until the timer goes off. Have extra paper in case
you need it.
- Your
pen should not stop until the timer goes off. Even if you
need to write down a totally stupid and impractical idea,
it's better than stopping. If you simply can't think of
anything else, look back at what you've already written
to see if any words or phrases need more explanation.
- No
self-censorship, criticism or corrections are allowed during
the 10 minutes. In other words, don't rule out a possible
solution as bad or impractical. Instead, write out the entire
idea and see where it leads you.
- Some
believe that the brainstorming process can be helped by
listening to classical music or songs without lyrics.
- Even
if you come across a good idea near the start of the brainstorming
session, don't stop. Even better solutions may come next.
When you
are done, you will probably have come up with at least a couple
of solutions that have real promise to solve your problem.
As a result, your sense of powerlessness against your problem
will be diminished. And this means that your stress level
will fall and, yes, you'll likely sleep better as a result.
Remember that brainstorming is a skill, and like all skills
it requires some practice. So don't give up if it feels uncomfortable
to you at first or does not yield the result you seek. Keep
at it until you get good. The effort will be worth it.
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