Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscience professor at Stanford university create the term NSDR which means “non-sleep deep rest” which is a state in that people direct their minds to calm and focus. In this technique, you aren’t to sleep. It’s a state before sleep the mind is dreamy and semi-focused. It’s the time exactly before the sleep state the mind is still kind of awake. In this, you don’t have complete conscious control on your awareness of space and time.
In the NSDR you are going to yourself to a sleep-like for a short time for lets the brain rest intensely.
Does NSDR help sleep?
We all remember that nights we are lying in bed, but we can’t sleep. Starting thinking numbers moments on the clock. We know how much sleep less, tomorrow will feel exhausted.
The NSDR technique affects our sleep by feeling in control of our ability to rest. The idea is that if we try to focus on resting instead of forcing ourselves to sleep, our brains play other games. It starts to gain control of the situation.
How to practice NSDR?
Two main techniques Huberman recommends to enter NSDR. Yoga Nidra and Hypnosis
Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation that is shaped by guided meditation with deep relaxation. It’s a state in which we feel paralyzed, where we are in between sleep and wakefulness.
“What is hypnosis? The state of hypnosis brings about a state of focused attention and a lack of self-consciousness. During hypnosis, you actually have greater control over your emotions and body sensations. Self-hypnosis helps leverage the mind-body relationship. This has been proven to help people manage conditions such as stress, pain, and insomnia.” (Read more in this link)
NSDR benefits
- Helps with memory retention.
- Enhances rates of neuroplasticity, which can promote learning.
- Relieves stress.
- Improves cognitive function.
- Improves sleep quality.
- Enhances focus and mental clarity.
- Potentially helps with pain management
Some URL link that you can practice NSDR
youtube.com/watch?v=AKGrmY8OSHM&ab_channel=VirtusanApp
youtube.com/watch?v=7H0FKzeuVVs&ab_channel=LizzyHill
youtube.com/watch?v=M0u9GST_j3s&t=48s&ab_channel=YogaNidraApp
Learn more about NSDR
hubermanlab.com/optimize-your-learning-and-creativity-with-science-based-tools/
tim.blog/2021/07/06/andrew-huberman/
Recourses
sleep.com/sleep-health/non-sleep-deep-rest
vastdiversity.com/best-nsdr-protocols/
joinvitalhealth.com/blog/non-sleep-deep-rest
hubermanlab.com/optimize-your-learning-and-creativity-with-science-based-tools/
The cover image recourse
themapsinstitute.com/how-nsdr-combats-overstimulation-and-may-be-the-key-to-improving-your-cognitive-function/
Image credits: Tim Foster.
