It has been genuinely, unreasonably hot lately.

Going into my attic bedroom at the end of the hottest day this year, reminded me of being back in my birth country — except there was no aircon to alleviate the stinging heat.

So naturally, I was the first to be surprised by how well I slept on the hottest nights recently, despite emphatically declaring to my husband ‘I won’t be able to cope here all night’.

The honest and most plausible answer for my good night sleep?

Meditation.

Not a blackout blind (it fell half way through the night), not a fan pointed directly at my face (though, also that) — meditation.

I know it sounds ridiculous and far-fetched, but let me explain.

The quality of your sleep is shaped long before your head hits the pillow.

Avoiding caffeine after midday, having a wind-down routine and aligning to your chronotype are all solid tips to follow.

But there is another piece to consider, which is that in our modern day lives, our bodies have become stress-loaded vessels.

What I mean by that is that your nervous system builds tension all day, every day, throughout the day — the notifications, the meetings, the decisions, the unexpected emergencies, the constant level of worry. We build, build, build, often with no escape valve.

So you get to bedtime, and you are still processing. Mind still running.

Deep, restorative sleep — which is important in the first half of the night — becomes harder to reach, even when you try to give yourself a day in the week to ‘sleep in’ (which is actually doesn’t really restore you).

More hours isn't always the answer.

In simple terms, meditation puts your body into a state of physiological rest that's measurably different from ordinary relaxation.

I know it may sound impossible to achieve when you have a million things to do, but I promise you — it is easy.

You sit. You close your eyes, and you do nothing. Twenty minutes. That is the simple premise and simple promise of meditation.

What happens internally is transformative for your mind, your body and your sleep: Cortisol drops. Heart rate variability improves. Your nervous system begins to release the tension it's been accumulating since your first meeting of the day.

Do this twice — morning as soon as you wake up and afternoon before 7pm — and you're giving your body two natural opportunities to peel layers of fatigue and stress you have been accumulating for hours, days, sometimes years.

By bedtime, your nervous system isn't still wired or mid-process. It's already had space to clear some of what is draining your energy.

Here are my upcoming classes where you can experience rest. These classes are a guided way to experience rest and relaxation. Guaranteed to sleep better after afterwards!

🌸 Restorative Yoga in Clitheroe at Vanessa Flow Yoga
Upcoming Classes: 31 May, 14 June, 28 June. Book directly at the studio and use this code for a FREE class

🌸 Restorative Yoga in Barrowford at Pendle Wellbeing Hub
Upcoming Class: 24 June. Book directly on the studio website.

🌸 Restorative Yoga Online from the comfort of your own home! Go to my library of Restorative Yoga classes and pick the one that speaks to you the most. You can do this one at home.

If this reflection resonates and you sense that something deeper is asking for attention, let’s chat.

✨ Book a FREE chat with me
A focused 45-minute conversation to explore what may be draining you, and what would help. No pressure, no pitch — just a clear, honest chat. Book your free session here.