There’s a scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy doesn’t know the way to the Emerald City. After the Oz residents sing an eerie, haunting tune, she follows the yellow brick road and—with the help of a few friends—finds the wizard. For those of us with sleep issues, this story may sound familiar. Every night can feel like a Judy Garland-esque adventure. Which “brick road,” or, OK, sleep strategy, will deliver you to dreamland the quickest?
Some people prefer sleep meditations, while others turn to ocean waves, stories, or yoga. But if you rely on podcasts or audiobooks to fall asleep, you may wonder if that practice is expert-approved. What content is best? How long should you listen for? Should you really be throwing on Crime Junkies or the latest from Stephen King before calling it a night?
“Having a distraction to help calm your brain so that you’re not focusing on thoughts, worries, and to-do lists can be really helpful, and actually allow you to fall asleep more quickly,” says certified pediatric and adult sleep consultant Kelly Murray, who adds that a quiet mind is an essential part of falling…
