NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours
Relaxation Techniques
Normal sleep onset takes up to about 25 minutes.9 If you tend to have trouble falling asleep, relaxation techniques may be helpful.10 This behavioral strategy helps reduce arousal and physical tension connected with stress, anxiety, and worries that interfere with sleep. Relaxing is a learned skill and is beneficial to overall health as well as for sleep promotion.
Try learning these various techniques and select one or a combination that you like best:
- relaxation breathing
- imagery
- meditation
- progressive muscle relaxation
Practice helps; repeated use of the techniques can improve the relaxation effect over time.