What rituals help with falling asleep?

What Gurudev says

You know the feeling: you're lying in bed, your body is tired, but your mind is still running through ten unfinished things? This is exactly where Gurudev starts when he asks what actually causes insomnia.

Too much dreaming, too much wanting to do, this has all caused insomnia. I want nothing, I do nothing – keep these two things in mind. You will fall asleep like a baby.

From the official Art of Living website — "Sleep Secrets: Say goodbye to sleepless nights -" (2023-06-18)

Here Gurudev isn't talking about a fixed ritual in the sense of a multi-step evening routine, but about an inner attitude you can take on shortly before you go to sleep. The actual "ritual" you can draw from his words is about as simple as it gets: repeat the two phrases "I want nothing, I do nothing" inwardly, and use them to wind down the wanting and doing in your mind, instead of giving the carousel of thoughts more room to run.

What you can do

1. Consciously set the day's business aside before you go to bed. Take a few minutes where you stop wanting to plan or get anything done in your mind.
2. Repeat inwardly: "I want nothing, I do nothing." Gurudev describes exactly these two phrases as a simple reminder against the mind running on.
3. Turn it into a small, recurring evening ritual. Repeat this moment of letting go at the same time every evening, instead of only reaching for it once you're already lying awake in bed.
4. Watch yourself doing it, without forcing anything. If thoughts keep running anyway, that's not a failure – just gently return to the two phrases.
5. Talk to a doctor about ongoing sleep problems. If you have trouble falling asleep over a longer period, that deserves a medical check – this page does not replace medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

What to do about waking up frequently at night? Gurudev often names too much dreaming and too much wanting to do as the cause – his advice is a simple inner reset: want nothing, do nothing. He also explains waking at night through inner energies: when your Prana level is too high, you're jittery and awake; when your Apana level is too high, you feel dull and heavy.

What to do about insomnia? For Gurudev, insomnia often comes from too much wanting and too much doing in the mind – "I want nothing, I do nothing" is his simple reminder against it. He also describes how restlessness and unfulfilled desires keep the mind too busy for deep sleep, and advises loosening the grip of desire so it stops disturbing you.

How can I sleep better without sleeping pills? Gurudev traces insomnia back to too much mental wanting and doing. His suggestion isn't a remedy but an inner attitude: "I want nothing, I do nothing" – this simple two-point reset in the mind is meant to make falling asleep easier.

What can I do about stress? Gurudev advises training the mind to live in the present moment, instead of carrying around needless tension. Once the mind stops racing, you experience deep rest with full alertness. Meditation, in his words, keeps new stress from taking hold, and at the same time releases what has already built up in the system.

Related questions

• Why can't I switch off at night?
• How can I sleep better?
• What helps against racing thoughts before falling asleep?
• What can I do when worries keep me awake at night?
• Does meditation before sleep really help?
• Sleep — overview

Sources

The quotes on this page come from:

• Official Art of Living website — "Sleep Secrets: Say goodbye to sleepless nights -" (2023-06-18)