Boulder Sentinel

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness refers to achieving awareness of self and reality in the present moment. And best of all, it does it in a non-judgmental manner.

The benefits of Mindfulness in people with insomnia

First of all: what causes insomnia?

Common causes include stress. Stress can come from any event (or thoughts) that makes you feel frustrated, angry. Insomnia is also caused by an irregular sleep schedule or poor sleeping habits, mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, physical illnesses, medications, neurological problems and many other reasons.

“Mindfulness can quiet the brain and allow for deeper sleep,” says Shelby Harris, PhD, a clinical sleep psychologist in White Plains, NY.

Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness significantly reduces the severity of insomnia. It helps increase the total sleep time, sleep efficiency and sleep quality, and it reduces sleep problems in people with cancer, depression, anxiety and obesity.

Find more about mindfulness and how to start practice it here: https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/