Sleep story · warm, home
Sleep story: a kitchen late at night, when the house is busy — for a restless night
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 kitchen is warm, and the small light over the hob is the only one on. Through the window you can see the back garden, which is doing nothing at all. The fridge motor stops, and the room gets even quieter.
The clock on the oven shows a time that feels later than it is. Your chair is pulled out slightly, the way you left it. A plate dries on the rack with a slow drip every so often.
Feel your cheeks let go. Let the mattress take all of it.
Let your forehead go cool and smooth. Feel your belly rise and fall without any help from you.
There is a cup of tea beside you that has gone past drinking temperature. The tea towel is folded over the rail, still slightly damp.
Now feel your whole body at once, lying here, being held up. Feel the weight of your head on the pillow.
Notice the difference between a thought and the space around it. Notice the pull to make this mean something. It doesn't have to.
Notice your hips, wide and settled. Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be.
Let your breathing do the rest. Sleep.
Just the breath. Let the thoughts come and go without you getting up to answer. Just the weight.
It works with other people in the house. You do not need silence.
Let this be the last thing you listen to.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for warm, home.
If this story does not settle you, try The night train, when you are short on time — for waking too early, Sleep story: a garden in the rain, if you are doing this instead of scrolling — for an overtired night or A library at closing time — a slow story for the end of the day, when you want to be left alone — for jet lag.