I have been having trouble sleeping lately. Around 3 am, I wake up, go to the bathroom, then get back in bed only to have my brain start to whir. The whirring might be nice if it were centered on all the wonderful things in my life, but that’s not the case. Instead, I think about situations and circumstances that are stressful to me: deadlines, relationships, things I should have done but didn’t, and things I should not have done but did. Around and around, these thoughts go for an hour or so before I finally fall back to sleep.

I told daughter Liz about this, and she said that she had read that it was helpful when lying in bed worrying to separate the various worries into three categories; My Problem, Other People’s Problems, and a Higher Power’s Problems. If the issues fall under My Problems, then write down on a nearby notebook (or on Notes on your iPhone) a few thoughts on how to tackle that problem; if the issues fall under Other People’s Problems, then acknowledge you have no control over what other people do; if the issues fall under a Higher Power’s Problems, then turn them over to that Higher Power.

I also read an article today by Rebekah Brandes titled “Mentally Resilient People Live Longer, Study Suggests—Try These Tips to Boost Your Coping Skills.”

The gist of the article is that there are two approaches to reducing stress: problem-based coping tactics and emotion-based coping tactics.

Here are a few of the approaches she included in the article:

Problem-based coping tactics:

Reach out to a friend or a professional to help you work through the issue

Make a to-do list to break down a project into more achievable tasks

Distance yourself from the stressful situation

Practice time-management techniques if you’re feeling overwhelmed by a project

Set and maintain healthy boundaries with other people and your commitments

Emotion-based coping tactics:

Focus on another activity to take your mind off the issue causing you stress

Engage in an enjoyable hobby

Practice self-care to feel better in the moment and beyond

Exercise or go for a walk

Try deep breathing, meditation, and other relaxation techniques

I have tried deep breathing, meditation, and prayer when I’m wide awake at 3 am. They do help, that is true.

I think I’ll try Liz’s method the next time I wake up in the early morning hours. (I hope it’s not this upcoming morning!) During the day, I’ll try a few of these other approaches.

Do you have ways that you’ve coped with an early morning wake-up? If so, please let me know. I am ready to routinely get a whole night’s sleep. Life is better when I’m rested.