Sleep Aid for the Sandwich Generation

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“Ways to Fall Asleep” headlines abound in a wide variety of magazines from those geared for the young on up to those with an older readership. Sleep medication ads are all around. "Can't Sleep" issues can impact just about everyone. Of course, some do have more difficulties than others. The elderly often have a harder time sleeping as they continue to age. Those going through menopause struggle with the problem due to hot flashes and other issues. Caregivers of any age can struggle with sleep when worries over health, finances, kids, etc. take over. It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting, and it makes it doubly difficult to carry on with all the various responsibilities we caregivers have.

I have discovered a few creative ways to fall asleep and thought I would share my newest one, which is also my favorite one. I discovered that I could use my mp3 player to “lull” me to sleep while also planting God’s Word into my mind. I have it loaded up with a wide variety of sermons by some of my favorite pastors including Pastor Joe Focht of Calvary Chapel Philadelphia. When I awake, and can’t go back to sleep because my busy mind starts kicking into overdrive, I just grab my Apple iPod , turn it on to a sermon from one of the epistles, set it for a low but audible setting, and pop one ear bud in my ear. Then I tuck the iPod under my pillow and start listening. If I absolutely can’t sleep, I  am learning more about God and His Word. Most nights, I find that I am back to sleep within five minutes, with the added blessing of a verse or two impressed on my mind. Occasionally I will wake up again for a few minutes, listen to a bit more of the sermon, and then it again lulls me right back to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, these are not boring sermons. I thoroughly enjoy listening to them when I don’t have a chance to do my own regular Bible study. In fact, I will later make sure I listen to them while driving in a car since I do miss so much of it. When I do, I find it interesting that the parts I did listen to I do remember.

I’ve learned to pick pastors who have quieter voices as opposed to those with more dramatic voices. I have also learned not to use sermons on dramatically interesting stories such as Daniel and the Lion’s Den or those from the book of Revelation. They can actually keep me awake because I am so interested or because they have created some anxiety in me. I often use the same sermon every time for a week or two since I never last that long through it. The interesting thing is that before, when I tried praying or lying there, I would stay awake much longer, and often never get back to sleep. I’ve only had that happen once since I started this routine a few months ago.

I use an Apple iPod but I’m sure any mp3 player would work fine. My mom has actually done this for years using a cd player. Those are a bit more bulky and you’d need to have a little table to put it on.

Whether you give this a try yourself, or help an elderly parent with this suggestion, please let us know how it worked for you by leaving a comment below.

One final thought before I bid you adieu. The sermon I’ll be listening to next is from Romans 8:28-30. It’s one of my favorite passages and I wanted to share it with you on this Sunday evening:

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Have a blessed Sunday! Sleep well.