Sometimes it is the only way....

We all have that little chatterbox in our head. I like to think of mine as a little cartoon devil and angel one sitting on each shoulder. This helps me to not take my chatterbox too seriously.

But sometimes that chatterbox just won't shut up will it? Often when there is some negativity going on in our lives but I also find that it can be disturbing when I'm excited about something too. Don't get me wrong I don't want to stop being excited but when it is keeping me up at night that doesn't really work for me.

The problem with this chatterbox is that it is very loud and so listening to a nice relaxation hypnotic session or carrying out some form of progressive relaxation down through the body doesn't always have the desired affect.

So sometimes the only way to deal with it is simply to bore the pants off of it (a bit like the old fashioned counting of sheep).

So the next time you are being wound up by too much negativity, or dog tired in bed with an overactive brain that won't let you sleep, or any other type of annoyance created by your chatterbox here's what to do.

• Start counting from 10 down to 1 in fraction form (10, 9 1/2, 9, 8 1/2, 8 and so on)
• As you count give each number a colour (eg. the 1 of the ten is red, the 0 of the ten is blue, the 9 is green, the 1 of the half is pink, the line of the half is purple, the 2 of the half is yellow. And so on using your own colours). It doesn't matter if you don't see just imagine that you see the same purpose is served
• Hear the numbers and the colours in your inner ear in a monotoned voice
• Imagine writing them - in the sand with your finger, on a blackboard with chalk or with crayons on a piece of paper. Or perhaps they are in blocks of foam or squidgy plastic, Notice how it feels as you write or hold these numbers in your hand
• If you get distracted just come back to the number 10 and start again.

All the time you are focusing on these numbers; how they look, sound and feel you cannot be focusing on anything else. It may take commitment but you will eventually sidetrack your conscious brain and in turn go into a nice state of relaxation or sleep if that is appropriate. You will also not be able to focus on anything else at the same time and so you will get a break from your chatterbox.

Sweet dreams and positive imagining.