As the weekend comes to a close, many of us begin carrying tomorrow before today has even ended. We replay conversations, make mental to-do lists, and hold onto the responsibility of the day long after they passed. This week’s Sunday Softening is an invitation to set those things down, even only for a little while, and prepare your body and mind for a restful sleep.

Sleep has never come easily for me. Over the years I’ve explored many different approaches, but the practice I returned to most often is meditation. It gives my mind somewhere gentle to rest while allowing my body to soften, creating the conditions for deep restorative sleep.

One unexpected gift of this practice is what happens when I wake up in the middle of the night. Instead of immediately returning to the worries and responsibilities of the day, I’ve learned to come back to the present moment. My mind becomes quieter, my body relaxes more easily, and I can often drift back to sleep without the struggle that used to keep me awake.

We often think rest begins when we fall asleep. I believe it begins much earlier – when we’re willing to loosen our grip on the day. Before tomorrow asks anything of you, give yourself permission to simply be here. Let today be enough.