A good night’s sleep. Has anyone had one in the past few weeks? I know that I often wake up at 4:30 a.m. with a racing mind and an exhausted body these days. When this happens, one of my standby sleep rituals is to listen to music or an audiobook. Listening to something distracts me from my own thoughts and allows me to calm down and drift. This doesn’t always solve my sleep problems, but it at least takes my mind off of how frustrated I am that I am not currently sleeping!
The library provides free electronic access to audiobooks, streaming music, and guided meditations. Also, with apps such as Overdrive/Libby and hoopla, there are “sleep timers” so you can set them to play for however long it may take you to fall asleep. Below is just a short sampling of my favorite soothing bedtime listens. Of course, any audiobook, music, or guided meditation that you already love could work too. The library has thousands of audiobooks and music available through our e-media providers. Listen and have a good night!
Listen and Fall Asleep Suggestions
Stephen Fry’s melodious British voice reads this classic about the adventures of a marmalade-loving bear.
Who wouldn’t want Ron Swanson to read them a bedtime story? You can (almost) have that with these books written and read by Ron Swanson’s portrayer, Nick Offerman.
Listen to self-kindness expert Kristin Neff’s wonderful book about caring for yourself during moments of suffering. Xe Sands’ calm voice narrates.
Still Life is the first of the Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series read by the deep British voice of the late Ralph Cosham.
How about floating off to dreamland while listening to the sonorous voice of Alan Rickman reading you “My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun” or Ladysmith Black Mambazo singing a composition scored to “Music to Hear, Why Hears't thou Music Sadly”?
These fun, comforting romances by Jasmine Guillory (with guaranteed happily ever after endings) are read to humous perfection by Janina Edwards.
Cassandra Campbell is in Audible’s “Narrator Hall of Fame.” Listen to her read Tara Brach’s book about finding refuge in difficult times and situations.
Thom Rivera beautifully reads Maggie Stiefvater’s magical realist novel set in rural Colorado during the 1960s.
Many people know that hoopla has e-books and audiobooks, but did you know it also has lots of music albums as well? This collection includes several Australian orchestras playing Bach, Debussy, and others.
How about an actual, honest-to-goodness, guided sleep meditation?