Perhaps you’re curious about the term “paradoxical.” It refers to something that embodies two opposing meanings. Armed with this knowledge, let us dive into the world of the “paradoxical intention” technique, a widely acclaimed method that enhances sleep quality and promotes uninterrupted sleep throughout the night....For More CONTINUE THE FULL READING▶▶
What is the paradoxical intention hack all about?
This clever technique essentially involves deceiving your mind into relaxing and entering sleep. Instead of obsessing over or being anxious about sleeping, it encourages embracing your wakefulness wholeheartedly.
“The anxiety and concern over not achieving sufficient sleep actually keep our nervous system in a state of alert, hindering the relaxation and sleep we earnestly seek,” Standish mentions. “Hence, by applying the paradoxical intention strategy—ceasing the effort to compel sleep—we can finally let go enough to ease into sleep,” he adds.
Keep in mind that fully welcoming wakefulness doesn’t consist of scrolling through social media or streaming your favorite show. In order for the paradoxical intention hack to be successful, there are a few things you need to do. This includes darkening your room, keeping the temperature down, ensuring your space is quiet, and practicing all-around good sleep hygiene.
People swear by the paradoxical intention hack to fall and stay asleep.
People on TikTok are raving about and embracing “paradoxical intention” to fall asleep. Sleep aid brand Hostage Mouth Tape, which claims to be the “strongest, comfortable mouth tape on the planet,” shared in a TikTok video, “I hate to break it to you, but pressuring yourself to get to sleep doesn’t help. If everything else has failed, try this. You can actually fall asleep by trying to not fall asleep. This little trick is known as paradoxical intention … do not try to force yourself to sleep and make that your main thought. It will only cause you anxiety and make it even harder. Just try to relax, enjoy your bed, and do the opposite.”
In addition, Standish is a major advocate of a version of the paradoxical intention hack. “When I find myself wide awake in the evening or in the middle of the night, I use a variation of the paradoxical intention technique—I not only embrace being awake, but I actually lean into the wakefulness as unexpected quiet time with myself (as a busy working mom, this can be hard to come by!!),” Standish tells us. “I practice informal mindfulness by turning inwards, noticing my thoughts, breath, and body, and just enjoying getting to know myself better. Most of the time I fall back asleep pretty quickly, but occasionally I’ll get out of bed and read quietly or listen to an audiobook to help me relax even more.”
