Sleep / insomnia

I've been thinking a lot lately about the ingredients that can help create a restful night. Whether it's trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or lying there worrying and watching the clock tick by for hours-- it's a situation all too relatable to so many. One thing  I've noticed is how much the days affect the nights. When we move through the day from one thing to the next without pauses to clear the mind, all the accumulated thoughts and feelings show up at night right when you lay down to rest; it's the first opportunity they have for your attention, when it is finally quiet and there is nothing else to do. Small intentional mind clearning practices during the day, like journaling, meditation, yoga, reflective time in nature, etc., can make a big difference in arriving to the night with more mental and physiological freedom to welcome the state of sleep. 

What do you find helpful in creating the conditions for a restful night?

Hi there,

I'm menopausal and my once uncanny ability to fall asleep- and stay asleep- is gone.  How can I be sure that this is a result of menopause? Should I get a sleep study?  I'm so tired of not feeling rested!