Want to Solve Problems While You Sleep? Have a Drink…
A lot has been written about the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Evidence suggests that sleeping on a problem can help generate new insight into a solution. I discovered a trick about 12 years ago that has served me well – and I’ve recommended it many times, to clients, friends, and family. I can’t remember where I first learned about it, but it’s one of my favorite techniques for using the power of sleep to work out problems. And all you need are a pen, paper, and a glass of water.
First, just before going to sleep – state your problem and drink half of a glass of water (I prefer a small glass – I don’t want to have to get up for a bathroom break in the middle of the night).
Next, upon awakening, and before you do anything else, drink the other half of the water. Then lie back down and see what develops. You may get some snippets of dreams, some inner voice clues, a gut feeling, or nothing at all. Just see what happens. Anything that you feel is relevant to the issue you’re working on, write down.
Then get up and go about your day. You may get insights throughout the day, so be sure to have something to jot down any thoughts or ideas as they come up.
If nothing happens, do the same thing again the next night. Usually after 3 nights, I’ve got my solution. Granted, my brain may have worked it out by then anyway, but the trigger of the water before bed helps to keep it focused on coming up with a solution.
I have often wondered if this method works similarly to a placebo – I expect it to work, so it does. But any trick that delivers results is useful, in my book.
A footnote about dream recall – I’ve found that this technique works even if you can’t remember the specific dreams you’ve had. Jonathan Steele (and I’m sure others as well) wrote about a similar technique for dream recall. Honestly I never really cared about remembering the dreams themselves (though often I do). I’m more interested in the “eureka” moment that comes regarding the problem.
Tony D. Clark writes, draws cartoons, designs software and websites, and spends a lot of time talking others into working from home, being creative, and doing what they love. His blog Success from the Nest helps people to design a home-based business that utilizes their unique gifts, and provides advice for those already living the home business life – all served up with humor and cartoons.
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Comments
Parapsychology says on January 9th, 2007 at 10:04 am
I’ve read about this technique when I read the Jose Silva’s book “You the healer”.
There he also described how he asked an ill man to do this procedure. But the book didn’t explain why it worked.
Martin says on January 9th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Thanks. I am gonna try this for me out, even as I just can*t believe it….
John Wesley says on January 9th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I do the same, but I substitute a glass of scotch on the rocks with a splash of water.
Tony D. Clark says on January 9th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Parapsychology – That may have been where I first heard it. It’s been so long ago, and so many books ago, I didn’t remember. Thanks for the info.
Martin – I don’t think I thought it would work the first time. But it’s worked pretty consistently for me over the years – as well as for fiends, family and clients. If nothing else, it’ll keep you from waking up thirsty and dry :)
John – Same technique, different result. Though it may solve the problem for the short term ;)
chris says on January 9th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I wonder if the key to this idea is in the lying back and relaxing when you wake up. Normally, if your alarm blares off and then you just leap up (or merely groggily stumble) then your mind is already off onto morning things. At least by taking a few moments you’re not wiping the overnight slate clean.
ozgur says on January 9th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I could not understand why we need a cup of water for this technique
Tony D. Clark says on January 9th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
The glass of water is just a focusing tool. Stating your issue and drinking half the water before bed, then drinking the second half upon awakening helps to “sandwich” your question and the work your brain did during the night. Of course, this is just my interpretation. I’m sure there is a more scientific reason behind it.
RE Ausetkmt says on January 9th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
For All Interested :
this comes from an old Yoruba/Hoodoo Number Conjure Ritual.
Supposedly it works because the water clears your thoughts as it clears your toxins.
the dreams are supposedly captured while you sleep in the other half of the glass of water; which is why when you drink the second half of the water, you get the dream refreshed.
in my explanation I accounted for the drinking. In actual Hoodoo practice, you do not drink the second half of the glass of water – as you put the entire glass of water underneath the head of your bed.
the glass of water holds your dreams so that when you awake in the morning the water in the glass has the dreams and the first thought on your mind in the morning is what the dream glass caught the night before.
also hoodoo men use this to predict what number you should play in the numbers races, many years ago – before the lottery. it is reputed to have been very effective, as there are a multitude of books published that equate dreams to numbers.
every heard of the “Black Cat” or “Three Wise Men” brand of Dream Books ?
they’ve been handed down and still published for generations in the occult community – and many still rely on them.
I have an aunt that personally looks up her lottery numbers from those books, and she hits often. I know when I need money and I call her and tell her my dreams she tells me what to play, and once a year – unpredictably I will hit. I don’t play often but one of those 10 times that year, I will get a hit.
Buena Suarte !!
~RE Ausetkmt
Kris says on January 9th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Jose Silva wrote that this method works because it induces a alpha brain wave pattern.
Kaizer says on January 9th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
RE Ausetkmt,
You mention that your aunt hits often at the lottery. She must be a billionnaire a few time over then?
Jonathan Steele, RN says on January 11th, 2007 at 7:43 am
The drinking cold water thing from a book, Whole Brain Thinking. It was a part of decades of study.
The water needs to be cold. It could have something to do with a vaso-vagal reflex that results in a release of endogenous endomorphins. This results in a re-firing of the neurons in the brain. Because they are not strong neural connections, the memory is only short lived.
For about 80% of my patients (anecdotal study of my own) when pressing certain bilateral points on the back of the head where the neck meets the head, a headache can be relieved for about 15 minutes. For the other 20% it is very painful. In migraine headaches, it only reduces the pain but to a tolerable level. This is from a manual manipulation resulting in a release of those chemicals.
It is not a placebo effect because you can give a cold glass of water to someone and they will have the same effect even if you do not tell them what the effect should be.
There is another technique that can be done if it is not convenient to sleep, such as in the middle of the day at work. It is called EMI.
Basically move the eyes as if following an imaginary Z. Follow the lines from as far as your field of vision will allow. Then make a square box around the Z. Do it slowly, do it 7-8 times. Only do it when you have peace, quiet, alone and perhaps are sitting down.
The alone is only to avoid people thinking you have lost it or are having a stroke or something. The sitting down is because the first time you do it will give you a buzz.
It is a stress reducer technique. However it helps the brain connect laterally which helps with problem solving. At the least, the negative thoughts that keep circulating in our brains from time to time can be turned off with this. That in it’s self will help us get on with other problem solving.
Regards,
Jonathan Steele, RN
Timoty says on April 16th, 2007 at 1:13 am
cool blog!