A few weeks ago, I wrote about your last words of the day. In that article, I talked about how you should dedicate the last words you have each day to prayer. But what about the last thoughts of the day?

We’ve all been there. Moments before drifting peacefully off to sleep, we have a thought that keeps us up tossing and turning for what seems like hours. A sense of dread comes over you and you just can’t seem to shake it. The most ridiculous thing about this late night worry is that there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it in that moment.

Our last thoughts of the day have the power to affect our dreams. So if they’re not wholesome, you might be in for some serious nocturnal temptation. If they’re stressful, you’ll have a hard time staying asleep. How do we direct our last thoughts of the day so that we can drift peacefully to sleep?

• Have an “approved thoughts” list. I try my hardest to not work on Sundays. On Sunday morning, I remind myself that it’s a day of rest and so thoughts about work are off limits. Having a similar list for your pre-sleep bed time can be equally helpful. Decide what’s off limits. Work, things you worry about, or anything that makes you anxious should be on this list. Remember, there’s nothing you can do about it in those moments, so there’s no point in thinking about them.
• Refuse to be worried or anxious about tomorrow. We’ve all had days that we knew were going to be tough. We can all remember what the night before was like. Don’t think about tomorrow (unless it’s going to be really awesome!).
• Think about things that are going really well, or the blessings you have. The best way to counteract bad thoughts at bedtime is to reflect on all of the good things in your life. Celebrate your accomplishments, think about fun things that are coming up in your life, or just remind yourself of all of the blessings that you have in your life.

The last thoughts of the day are critical to a good night’s sleep. Give these thoughts to things that are good, honorable, and just. Then, enjoy a great night’s sleep.

Tags: Reflections