Hi friends,

Whew, what a start to 2024! Our household has been playing virus tag since December. It seems like every week someone's down with something new and it coincides with reports that norovirus is hitting peaks bigger and earlier than last year. I hope you're all staying healthy out there!

Thank goodness the twins have somehow managed to dodge everything thrown their way! They just had another check up and are both gaining weight and staying healthy like champs.

But I do have some exciting news to share. I just got the audiobook files back for Shadow Uprising (Shieldwall Academy Book 4)! I'm thrilled with how it turned out and can't wait to get it up for pre-order. Mark your calendars for March 7th for the big release!

Quick call out to my wonderful readers. If you're not already on my ARC team and would like a free copy of book 4 to help catch any sneaky typos (plus post an honest review on Amazon a week or two before release), just hit reply! Your fresh eyes are invaluable in making these books the best they can be.

Before I share a simple sleep hack below, check out this week's fantastic sponsored books below! Every click helps keep this newsletter running and these useful tips coming your way.

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______________________

The Save Point Method: A Gamer's Guide to Better Sleep

Now, let's dive into something I think we all need sometimes, especially during these virus-filled months. More sleep!

I just read about this interesting method to quiet the intrusive thoughts that can keep us from falling asleep.

Just like how most would never quit a game mid-battle without saving their progress, we shouldn't try to sleep with unsaved thoughts bouncing around our minds. Clever thought, right?

Here's how to implement your own mental save point system, starting about 30 minutes before going to bed:

• Keep a "Save File" (your journal) and pen by your bed. Think of this as your dedicated log of thoughts bugging you before bed.
• First, do a "brain dump" of tomorrow's tasks. Write down everything from "need to email Mike" to "pick up eggs at the store". Keep going until you can't think of any more.
• Next, add a "stuff bothering me" section. Write down any worries, concerns, or emotional struggles you're dealing with. You're not trying to solve them - you're just acknowledging them and storing them safely until tomorrow when you can tackle them fully rested.
• The real magic happens in how this affects your sleep. When those 3am thoughts try to ambush you with "Don't forget to . . .", you can literally tell yourself, "It's okay, I wrote that down already."
• Bonus effort: Try adding a "Solutions & Resources" section to your journal. Sometimes just knowing you have a plan of attack can help quiet even more of those midnight worries.

I'm pretty excited to give this a try, because I often find my mind spinning back and forth around the same topic or worry which makes it very hard to let go of the idea and drift off to sleep.

Anyone else using similar methods to help you sleep? Hit reply and let me know your strategies. I'd love to hear what's working for you!

Stay healthy and get some good sleep this week,

- Misty :)

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p.s.s. Don't forget to hit reply to jump on my ARC reader team for Book 4, if you're interested.