Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Pillow Forts & Tree Houses (Encore)
Thu, 06 Mar 2025
Originally presented March 13th, 2022 as Season 9, Episode 11 Our story tonight is called Pillow Forts and Treehouses and it’s a story about a rainy afternoon tucked into a hideaway. It’s also about the big ideas of children, a bowl of pretzels and apple slices, and remembering that you are never too old to enjoy a fort. Visit moonbird.life/nothingmuchhappens to save 20% Go to Cymbiotika.com/Nothingmuch for 20% off + free shipping. Visit bioptimizers.com/nothingmuch and use code NOTHINGMUCH for 10% off any order
Chapter 1: How can intentional breathing improve your sleep?
I was a full-time yoga teacher for over 20 years, and I know the power of intentional breathing. It's why our two deep breaths have been part of our bedtime routine since Episode 1. And that's why I want to introduce you to Moonbird.
Chapter 2: What makes Moonbird a unique breathing device?
Moonbird is a handheld breathing device designed to comfortably fit in the palm of your hand, which may help people living with stress, anxiety, insomnia, autism, ADHD, or burnout. When you shake it, it will start inflating and deflating. So in your hand, it will feel like you're holding a little bird that is breathing in and out. The only thing you need to do is breathe along with it.
When moonbird inflates, you breathe in. When Moonbird deflates, you breathe out. Simple, intuitive, it takes all the effort and thinking out of your breathing exercises. It's the perfect companion to your bedtime ritual. Or use it when you're meditating, when you're stuck in traffic, anytime you need an assist in feeling calm and focused.
Listen, I know how to breathe to feel better, but still I use Moonbird because when my mind is racing or wandering, I need a little guidance and it makes my deep breathing more effective. So when you wake in the middle of the night, don't reach for your phone, unless it's to restart your bedtime story. That's fine. Reach for Moonbird. Visit moonbird.life slash nothingmuchhappens to save 20%.
We've got it linked in our show notes. Welcome to Bedtime Stories for Everyone.
Chapter 3: Who is Catherine Nicolai and what is this podcast about?
in which nothing much happens. You feel good, and then you fall asleep. I'm Catherine Nicolai. I write and read all the stories you hear on Nothing Much Happens. Audio engineering is by Bob Wittersheim. We are bringing you an encore episode tonight, meaning that this story originally aired at some point in the past. It could have been recorded with different equipment in a different location.
And since I'm a person... And not a computer. I sometimes sound just slightly different. But the stories are always soothing and family-friendly. And our wishes for you are always deep rest and sweet dreams. Now, let me say something about how this works. Your mind needs a place to rest. And without one, it's apt to race and wander and keep you up all night.
The story I'm about to tell you is a landing spot. Let your attention linger on the sound of my voice and the soothing details of the story. Doing so will actually shift your brain activity. from default mode to task positive mode, which just means you'll be able to sleep. I'll tell the story twice, and I'll go a little slower the second time through.
If you wake in the middle of the night, turn your thoughts right back to whatever you can remember about the story, or even just the details of a pleasant memory. and you will drop right back off. Our story tonight is called Pillow Forts and Tree Houses, and it's a story about a rainy afternoon tucked into a hideaway. It's also about the big ideas of children, a bowl of pretzels and apple slices,
Chapter 4: Why are pillow forts and tree houses nostalgic symbols?
and remembering that you are never too old to enjoy a fort. Something I have gotten so much better at in the last few years is taking care of my body. lovingly nourishing myself, getting all the sleep I need. I even floss now. And Symbiotica products are a big part of this grown-up self-care.
Whether you're trying to boost your energy and mood, improve digestion, or just function like a human, Symbiotica has something for you. I've been taking their vitamin C every day. In fact, my wife and I went on vacation and we packed their liquid travel-size packets in our carry-ons. It was truly the easiest thing I've done to keep up with my health. Symbiotica is as clean as it gets.
No seed oils, preservatives, or artificial junk. Just high-quality, real ingredients that actually do something. I feel so good knowing I'm taking care of my body. Yeah, it's even better than flossing.
Symbiotica. Symbiotica. Wellness made simple. Go to symbiotica.com slash nothingmuch for 20% off plus free shipping. That's symbiotica.com slash nothingmuch for 20% off plus free shipping. I care about your sleep.
It is always my first thought and priority in making this show. And sometimes you need extra help. Sometimes, even when your sleep hygiene is top tier, sleep doesn't come. Some nights, you might struggle to fall asleep. or wake after a few hours and toss and turn. I get it.
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Chapter 5: How do childhood memories shape our creativity?
When perimenopause hit me like a wrecking ball, it threw my sleep cycles so far off course that I felt like a different person. And sleep breakthrough drink from Bioptimizers has really helped. I fall asleep when I want to, and I sleep through the night without that 3 a.m. panic wake-up that had been haunting me. When I wake in the morning, I feel good, not groggy. I'm rested. My days are better.
Bioptimizers has flexible dosing, which I really like. My wife needs just a little bit, and I take a little more. And for folks looking for an option without melatonin, this is it. Ready to transform your sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Visit bioptimizers.com slash nothingmuch and use code nothingmuch for 10% off any order. Don't settle for another restless night, my friends.
Try Sleep Breakthrough Drink risk-free with Bioptimizers 365-day money-back guarantee. And this is all in our show notes if you forget. Visit buyoptimizers.com slash nothingmuch and use code nothingmuch for 10% off any order.
Okay, it's time.
Put down whatever you've been looking at and switch off the light. Slide down deep into your sheets. And make your body as comfortable as it can be. There's nothing you need to stay on top of. No one is waiting. And you have done enough for today. You're safe. Take a slow breath in through your nose. And let it out with a sigh. Nice. Do one more. In and out.
Good. Pillow forts and tree houses.
When I was a kid, playing with my friends, it seemed like our constant ambition to build a fort, to make a clubhouse, somehow to construct a space for ourselves that could only be permeated by grownups when snacks were handed through a flap in the blankets. The best version of this dream we could imagine was a treehouse.
And I remember sketching out plans with the stub of a pencil in a spiral-bound notebook with most of the pages ripped out. As long as you're dreaming, you may as well dream big. So our treehouse would have retractable stairs to keep out siblings who might try to take over the place, as well as, um, maybe bears? We were kids. It made sense at the time.
We'd have a fridge stocked with drinks and snacks. Where would we plug it in? Maybe a knot in the tree? Maybe we could figure out how to turn sap into electricity? Yeah, I'd make a note to invent that later. We'd have binoculars for spotting friends in their trees a few yards away. a slide or, better yet, a zip line to carry us back down. And we'd hold our meetings up there. About what?
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