Meditations on Color: A New Way to Unwind With Restore

Key Takeaways:

• Bedtime meditation is a simple, effective way to reduce anxiety and stress and calm the nervous system.
• Incorporating calming sensory cues as you focus on the present moment can help your mind and body shift into a more relaxed state.
• Hatch Restore’s newest channel, Meditations on Color, combines meditation with calming, gradually shifting lights for a calming bedtime routine.

At the end of a full day, your body doesn’t always know it’s time to power down. Meditation offers a simple way to signal safety to your nervous system, so you can shift gears toward rest. Pairing that practice with calming sensory cues can help you fall asleep faster, naturally.

Hatch Restore’s newest meditation channel, Meditations on Color, includes five episodes that explore the unique qualities of different colors as colored lights gradually appear and dim on your Restore. Below, learn more about Meditations on Color and how it can help you feel more relaxed at bedtime.

Table of Contents

1. Why Meditation Can Help You Sleep
2. What is Meditations on Color?
3. FAQs
4. References

Why Meditation Can Help You Sleep

Relaxing at bedtime doesn’t always happen automatically. The nervous system sometimes needs an external cue to shift from “go mode” to sleep mode at bed time. Taking time to slow down after a busy day with a calming bedtime routine can signal to your system that everything’s OK, and you’re safe — making it easier to wind down for sleep.

Studies show meditation, which involves focusing on one thing for a period of time, can promote better sleep quality. Rather than fixating on stressful moments from your day or anxious thoughts about the future, meditation guides you to redirect your mind and body to the present moment. It’s also an intentional moment to slow down and allow your nervous system to find calm after a busy day. Incorporating sensory details in your sleep space can add another layer of calm — think dim lights and cozy light colors.

What is Meditations on Color?

Meditations on Color is a guided meditation experience on Hatch Restore that uses color and light as a place to land your attention at the end of the day. Hosted by scientist and storyteller Dr. Titi Shodiya, each of the five episodes explores the unique qualities of a single color family (red, blue, green, yellow, and purple).

Each meditation track includes expert-made colored lights that display on your Restore, moving slowly from the brightest hue into its deepest, darkest shade. As the lights gently shift through the meditation, you’ll hear small reflections on the science, history, and feeling of each color. Like all Restore meditations, Meditations on Color is completely phone-free, providing circadian rhythm support without the temptation to scroll.

The unique combination of dimmed, shifting light, slower pacing, and color transitions thoughtfully support evening relaxation — all while supporting a consistent bedtime routine that helps you move from alertness into rest.

Explore how Hatch Restore can help you find calm for better sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does meditation affect the nervous system?

Meditation helps shift your body from a “fight-or-flight” state (sympathetic nervous system) into a more relaxed “rest-and-digest” state (parasympathetic nervous system). This can lower heart rate, ease muscle tension, and reduce stress hormones, making it easier to feel calm and settled before sleep.

Is it normal to feel more anxious when I start meditating?

Yes, it can happen. When you pause and turn inward, you may notice thoughts or sensations you’ve been pushing aside. This doesn’t mean meditation isn’t working. With time, most people find it gets easier and more calming.

Do I need to meditate for a long time to get the benefits?

No. Even short sessions can help your nervous system start to relax. Consistency matters more than length, especially when you’re building a wind-down routine.

References

1. Rusch, H. L., Rosario, M., Levison, L. M., Olivera, A., Livingston, W. S., Wu, T., & Gill, J. M. (2019). The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1445(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13996
2. Nagendra, R. P., Maruthai, N., & Kutty, B. M. (2012). Meditation and its regulatory role on sleep. Frontiers in Neurology, 3, 54. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2012.00054
3. Blume, C., Garbazza, C., & Spitschan, M. (2019). Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood. Somnologie : Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin = Somnology : sleep research and sleep medicine, 23(3), 147–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-019-00215-x