How NOT To Lose Sleep When You’re Stressed About Money

The light from the digits on your nightstand clock blare against your weary eyes.  Images of an eviction notice, piled-high envelopes stuffed with past due nasty grams, and thoughts of living in your car bounce chaotically through your mind.

You roll over to feel the warmth of your husband, but he's not there.  He can't sleep either.  Depression is taking hold of him.

Not helping matters is knowing you'll both enter the new day filled with anxiety, moodiness, headaches, reduced energy, and an inability to concentrate on any one thing for more than a few minutes.

If only the both of you could get a few restful nights of sleep.  Maybe…maybe then you'd be able to think clearly on how to approach the horror of unemployment.

Do You Suffer From Insomnia?

Studies show insomnia to be a common complaint among men and women, particularly those dealing with stress of unemployment or low income.  It's not healthy either.   If you don't resolve the problem soon, it can lead to serious health problems.

And let's face it, you have enough on your plate to worry about, don't you?

Perhaps the following list of ideas will help offer some relief.

10 Ways To Get The Rest You Need

1. Take It To God -  Get in the habit of taking your problems to God in prayer, every day.  Be careful to avoid half-heartedly rattling off your "laundry list" of things God needs to handle for you.  Instead praise Him for all He has done for you despite your difficult circumstances.  Speak prayerful words of faith, trusting Him to provide your every need.  Tell Him what you're afraid of and ask Him to remove those fears and replace them with an indescribable peace.  Pray for wisdom and discernment as you make difficult choices about your situation.
2. Engage In Regular Exercise - Studies prove moderate exercise can improve sleep quality in those suffering insomnia.  Yoga has great relaxation benefits and is therefore a great choice, but be sure to avoid exercise too close to bedtime.
3. Talk About Your Fears - Sometimes just talking about what's bothering you can help release pent up emotion and clear your mind.  You can do this in the form of journaling, blogging, joining a supportive and loving community of others in the same situation, or by simply having lunch and conversation with a friend.
4. Do Some Strategic Goal Planning - Plan time for you and your spouse to have a strategy meeting.  During this time, lay your situation in its entirety out on the table.  Start brainstorming for creative solutions in the job search, for financial planning, bill pay, and other family expenses.  Often times, having a plan both of you agree on can make a world of difference in mood, attitude, and ability to sleep.
5. Get On A Regular Sleep Schedule - Treat your sleep schedule as though you are still employed.  Go to bed at a decent hour each night, get up early with the alarm clock.  Over time your body will adjust and your internal clock will cause sleepiness as it should.
6. Relax In A Hot Bath Or Shower - A hot shower or bath before bed can work wonders in slowing us down and signaling to our body that it's time to rest.  Use a bath pillow or special lavender scented oils or soaps.  Light some candles and dim the lights if that helps.
7. Read A Good Book - Avoid books that will stimulate your mind such as how-to's or self-help books.  Instead immerse yourself in a good novel.  This is a great opportunity to escape the realities of life and get your mind focusing on other things.  Who knows…you might even have a few moments of creative problem solving inspiration come from the characters.
8. Write It Down - Leave a notepad and reading light by the side of your bed.  If you wake up in the middle of the night worrying over details beyond your immediate control, simply write everything down that's bouncing around in your head.  Tell yourself it's down on paper and you can worry about it in the morning.
9. Find An Escape - Like reading a good book, sometimes it helps to indulge in a favorite TV show or learn a new hobby.  When your mind is focused on something enjoyable, it's not brewing over the dire circumstances you can't immediately fix anyway.  Find an escape every once in a while to give yourself a sanity break.
10. Look Into Vitamins Or Supplements - Seek a doctor's advice on this one.  But if you're curious, there are websites such as WebMD that offer information about what vitamins or supplements may or may not be helpful in relieving insomnia.  Worst case scenario, your doctor can prescribe something to help you get the Z's you need.

What Methods Have Helped Cure Your Insomnia?

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Get your copy of UnEMPLOYED Faith today for only $4.99.

In the book, I share the raw details of my story, while also offering 10 different tried and true coping tips for enduring your season of unemployment with strength and perseverance.

Also available for FREE download is this helpful resource:  Praying Him Through Unemployment:  6 Week Prayer Guide.

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