Sleep Eludes Her

Dear Readers: It’s time for another quick Five Element Fix and an opportunity to address how we relate to ourselves.

Recently, I received the following question:

There’s so much going on in the world today, and much of it I find upsetting. At a personal level, things aren’t all that great, either. Not surprisingly, I’m having trouble falling asleep at night, which really frustrates me. I don’t want to take lots of pills, but is there anything I can try?

Answer: There certainly is a lot going on in the world today! Change seems to be the new norm, and change (even good change) is never easy. The motive power to act – and therefore change things – sits with the Wood element. Too much Wood energy will cause our brain to keep chugging along. An active brain can send a message to the physical form to be ready for action, which also sits in the Wood element, even when our physical form is already exhausted. The fact that your reaction to not being able to fall asleep is frustration also suggest that you are probably a primary Wood personality.

So, what needs to be done is to calm your Wood energy, and there are several easy ways to do that. You can wear white pajamas or sleep under white sheets because the color white builds Metal energy (the energy that helps balance Wood). You can drink a cup of warm lemon water before bed because sour tastes balance Wood energy. And my personal favorite is using Lavender oil right before bed because it calms both the body and the mind, which makes it doubly helpful for Wood energy. The best way I’ve found to use it is to place several drops of the oil on a tissue and inhale it slowly once you’re in bed.

Finally, I suggest you consider avoiding anything with a screen for at least an hour before you head to bed. This means not watching TV, no checking email on your laptop, or scrolling your phone for messages. All of that engages the brain and can activate Wood energy. Numerous studies have also established a link between using devices with screens before bed and an increase in the time it takes to fall asleep.

So, consider reading a book (not on a screen), playing a game, doing a puzzle, or listen to soothing music for the last hour before you go to bed. And absolutely do try to avoid TV news programs right before bed. All that is going on these days is sure to engage your Wood energy, and likely not always in a good way. As a fellow primary Wood personality, I can vouch for that!

I hope these suggestions help.

Blessings to you,

Vicki