As we kick 2025 to the curb and tiptoe into 2026 (because we’ve already been thrown many a curveball), it’s once again time to make New Year’s resolutions we actually want to keep. This year, for me at least, instead of swearing off carbs and sugar (OK, that may still be involved) or vowing to become a 6 a.m. workout person (circadian rhythm be damned), I’m asking you my Bedful friends to consider a gentler and far more effective goal: more mindfulness and meditation for better sleep. Think of it as a resolution that doesn’t feel like a drill sergeant, doesn’t require new sneakers, and can be done sitting or lying down (which should already sound like a big win).

Mindfulness for sleep isn’t about becoming a monk or “clearing your mind” (which I learned through my own TM™ training, can feel like an impossible task). It’s about slowing the mental spin cycle, noticing your breath, and letting your nervous system know it’s safe to power down. Even just a few minutes of meditation before bed tells our bodies we can stop being on such high alert. The result for me personally? I fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling less like I wrestled with my brain and my pillow all night.

And then there’s breathwork, which is truly the unsung hero of great sleep. Breathing deeply and intentionally is one of the fastest ways to calm the nervous system, lower stress hormones, and cue the body that rest is coming. Dr. Herbert Benson, MD (Harvard Medical School pioneer and author of The Relaxation Response see link to his book below), says: “Practices like meditation and controlled breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, which counteracts stress and has been shown to improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety.” The best part of all of this? We were born knowing how to do this. No supplements or gadgets required (though a cozy blanket never hurts). When we lean into the power of breathwork, we tap into the idea that our bodies already contain everything we need to sleep well. Our breath, our nervous system, our ability to self-regulate...this is the most natural medicine there is...and it’s pre-installed in all of us.

This is the real magic of making mindfulness and breathwork a New Year’s resolution: better sleep becomes a side effect of taking better care of yourself overall. When you slow down, breathe deeper, and check in with your body, sleep naturally improves and so do your mood, focus, and resilience. It’s not about being perfect every night (I am certainly not); it’s about creating a ritual that feels self-loving, supportive, calming, and something you actually look forward to.

In 2026, the real challenge isn’t taking on more; it’s resting better. Your body already knows how to sleep. Mindfulness and breathwork are just giving it a gentle reminder of how to do it.

Happy Rezzzolutions,