How to Count Sheep
Have you heard the one about the shepherd that didn't know how many sheep he had? Every time he tried to count them, he'd fall asleep. If you're having problems falling asleep, you can try counting sheep, too. The following steps will help you drift off to dreamland.
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Instructions
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1
Lie down, close your eyes and think of a pasture with a low stone wall. Let it be twilight, with the moon and some stars in the sky. Imagine that a flock of sheep is just out of sight.
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2
Reinterpret any noises you hear as farm sounds. Traffic noise can be the sound of a distant tractor, for example. Voices might be chickens clucking at one another.
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3
Try not to think about anything but the scene you're visualizing. If any thoughts intrude, let them be drowned out by the bleating of the sheep.
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4
Remember that sheep are generally slow-moving creatures, weighed down by their wool, hobbling along on thin, short legs.
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5
Let a sheep appear, trot slowly up to the wall and climb over it. Don't let it jump--that's too exciting.
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6
Count to yourself in your head--not out loud--"One."
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Repeat Steps 5 and 6 as many times as necessary until you fall asleep. In between sheep, watch butterflies float past, follow a rabbit as it hops along the wall or watch a meteor streak across the sky.
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Tips & Warnings
If your insomnia is due to worry about all the things you have to do the next morning, try making a list before bedtime and leave it next to your bed.
