Andrew Huberman Sings Me a Lullaby Every Night

For nearly 10 years through high school and university, ruminating thoughts infested my brain every single night in the quiet time between my head hitting my pillow and sleep taking over. 

It sucked. 

I would be up for hours, playing out fictional conversations in my head and overthinking the day’s interactions. Nothing helped—no amount of reading, journaling, or breathwork could settle my mind.

I hate to admit that it was the peacefulness of a steady relationship that eased the mental torment associated with my nighttime routine. 

In recent months, post-break-up, the sleeping troubles have returned. It’s frustrating to feel like you’ve teleported back to square one after so much time has passed. 

I was ready to admit defeat and deal with the loss to my sleep until I heard about the practice of Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) on a podcast that was recommended to me last week.  

NSDR is a relaxation technique, coined by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, that is designed to induce a restful state in your mind and body. It can be done at any time of day or night, providing a mental reset that can help counteract the negative effects of getting too little sleep. 

Though not designed as a meditation that prepares you for sleep, one wakeful night I decided to give it a try. Maybe, just maybe, Huberman’s guided meditation could relax me enough that I could peacefully slip into sleep.

I’m not exaggerating when I say the practice has been a total game-changer to my bedtime routine. 

The meditation’s combination of soothing breathing techniques and visualizations have been able to consistently pull my mind away from rumination. It gives my brain just enough to concentrate on—unlike pure breathwork—that my mind is fully occupied in the exercise without being overexerted. 

My ability to hold my focus on Huberman’s soothing voice may vary based on my stress levels, exhaustion, and other factors. But the podcast consistently relaxes me and prepares me for sleep every single time I have it on. 

So, regardless of whether I’m in my head or not, I’ve made it a habit to put the meditation on before bed. Along with a few minutes of reading and journaling, it’s become an integral part of my wind-down routine. 

I’m thankful to have discovered it. And for my fellow worriers, I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.