Sleep story · warm, home
A kitchen late at night, when you feel restless rather than tired — for a racing mind
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
Lights off. Press begin and let the story read itself to you, at the pace of sleep.
Screen on or off — we suggest dimming it, or simply closing your eyes after the first paragraph.
The story, in full
The clock on the oven shows a time that feels later than it is. A plate dries on the rack with a slow drip every so often. Through the window you can see the back garden, which is doing nothing at all.
There is a bowl of fruit nobody has touched since Tuesday. The tea towel is folded over the rail, still slightly damp. There is a cup of tea beside you that has gone past drinking temperature.
Feel one shoulder go heavy, then the other. Let your forehead go cool and smooth.
Let your calves spread out and flatten. Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it.
The fridge motor stops, and the room gets even quieter. The kitchen is warm, and the small light over the hob is the only one on.
Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth. Notice the places where your body touches the bed, and let them be heavy.
If a worry shows up, name it quietly and let it sit beside you. If you're sleepy, sit up a little. Or let the sleepiness be there.
Your ankles can go loose now. Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow.
Slower. They will find their own way out.
Stay with the weight of your body. Just the breath. Let the sound of this go soft at the edges.
Restless is different from tired, and it needs a different approach.
Goodnight. There is nothing left to do.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for warm, home.