Problems falling asleep? You need these soothing sleep meditations from YouTube.

We don’t need to tell you how essential sleep is to help you do that, well, literally something. One of the biggest obstacles to rest is the annoying transition from day to night. After working, socializing, planning, organizing, and otherwise being in a constant state of *doing* during your waking hours, it can feel like a cruel joke to figure out how to slow down and prepare for sleep. If only people had an airplane mode.

Ironically, putting pressure on yourself to sleep better can lead to even worse sleep. The next time you’re tempted to give up snoozing and reach for your phone, open YouTube. No, not to watch your favorite celebrity sort through the contents of their bag. Instead, practice a soothing sleep meditation.

The best 10 minute sleep meditations on YouTube

If (or, more realistically, when) you find yourself tossing and turning for hours after calling it a night, try one of these 10-minute sleep meditations. They help calm your mind and remind you that rest is not only necessary, but can be something you actually look forward to.

Pro tip: Turn off “autoplay” at the bottom right of the video so you don’t wake up to the sounds of a random video.

1. Fall asleep in less than 10 minutes | The honest guys

This video from The Honest Guys is pretty much exactly what you imagine a sleep meditation to be: the ambient sounds, the slow pace of the narrator’s words, and the pauses between words leading you into deeper relaxation. It also includes some visualization cues (“Imagine a place where you feel completely at ease”) and relaxation cues (“Feel the weight of the day off your shoulders”) that you can keep in your back pocket and practice at any time.

“I know it’s a good video when I’ve used it multiple times and I still don’t know how it ends,” one commenter explains.

2. 10-minute guided sleep meditation | Boho beautiful yoga

Ahhh, the classic comfort of rain sounds. If that’s your thing, then maybe this sleep meditation is too. You will experience the typical guidance of focusing on your breathing and releasing tension in your body. But this video is unique because the narrator also encourages you to let go of ‘the day, the worries and the uncertainty’.

And if you find yourself still thinking about something you can’t quite release your grip on, the video soothingly reminds you, “There’s no need to hold on to anything anymore.” These may be just the words you need to hear for a more peaceful night.

3. 10-minute meditation to release stress | Lavendaire

Although this meditation from Lavendaire is not exclusively intended for bedtime, we all know that stress and anxiety can be sleep’s biggest enemies. Set to soft music, the video also includes the narrator’s encouragement to release tension in places you probably don’t even realize you’re carrying, from your eyebrows all the way to your toes.

Likewise, her grounding affirmations, including “I am relaxed” and “I am safe,” are words you may not have realized were the key to feeling more comfortable before bed.

4. 10 Minute Relaxing Sleep Cast | Headroom

If your imagination needs a little more stimulation to help you relax, then this ‘sleep story’ from Headspace might be for you. The soothing sounds of a whirring dryer provide the soundtrack to the Midnight Laundrette, over which the narrator tantalizes your senses with comforting details: the smell of the detergent, the sight of “buttons” of colorful clothes tumbling into the washing machine. Characters are even introduced. Think of an audiobook, but much quieter.

5. Deep rest | 10 minute yoga nidra | Yoga with Tim

Also known as ‘yoga sleep’, yoga nidra can be practiced at any time of the day. However, because it can help you access the deepest levels of relaxation, it also provides soothing exercises before bed. In this video, Tim’s voice-over is your regular guide during a gentle body scan to notice any tension in your muscles. He guides you to release “tension or tension” with each exhale and inhale a “sense of well-being.” There’s no music, so you can focus entirely on the quiet sound of Tim’s voice and the silence in between, letting go of all the thoughts that keep you awake.