How to Sleep Through a Thunderstorm

For most people, the pitter-patter of raindrops is a powerful lullaby, but for others, thunderstorms can be a sleep-stealing disturbance. In fact, a fear of thunderstorms is one of the top ten phobias for Americans. Sleeping through the storm gets easier with these helpful hints.

Instructions

• 1

  Insulate yourself in the darkest and quietest room in the house. Muffle outside sounds, if possible. Wear earplugs. Consider sleeping on the couch if your living room has fewer windows than your bedroom. Adjust the temperature to your liking. You are more likely to fall asleep in your personal ideal conditions, regardless of the weather outside.

• 2

  Sleep with someone. A common piece of advice for those agitated by thunderstorms is to snuggle up to someone else. Allow a child to sleep with you to calm their fears. Sneak into a sibling's bed. Regardless of whether the storm is causing you fear or distraction, the knowledge that someone is next to you will do wonders for your state of mind.

• 3

  Breathe deeply. Most people who toss and turn during a thunderstorm are so occupied with listening to the rain that they forget to breathe regularly. Concentrate on deep breaths, and you will soon forget about the raging thunder outside.

• 4

  Light a scented candle. Smell is the strongest sense linked to memory and positive thoughts. A pleasant odor and a flicker of light will calm your nerves considerably.

• 5

  Read a book. A boring book is even better. Not only will reading take your mind off the lightning, but books are a common way to get insomniacs to start snoring.

• 6

  Sign up for text message weather alerts. If you are losing sleep during a storm because of fear, sign up with your local news channel for automatic weather updates. You will sleep better with the peace of mind that you can get instant updates.