NHS doctor shares simple ‘shuffling’ hack to help you fall asleep in minutes

Bradford: You know those nights when you just can’t switch off? It’s like your brain is running a marathon, and you’re stuck wide awake. That’s insomnia for you, and it’s more common than you think. About one in three folks in the UK deal with it at some point.

So, what can you do when your mind won’t quiet down? Dr. Amir Khan, an NHS doctor, has a neat trick called cognitive shuffling. He shared it on TikTok, and it’s all about calming that racing mind. Instead of counting sheep, you scramble your thoughts to help your brain relax.

Dr. Khan explains that when you’re lying in bed, your thoughts can signal to your brain that it’s not safe to sleep. This keeps you awake, stuck in a loop of worry. The cognitive shuffling technique helps break that cycle. You pick a neutral word, something that doesn’t stir up any feelings, and then think of words that start with each letter of that word.

For example, if you choose “dream,” you’d think of words starting with “d,” then “r,” and so on. Picture each word in your mind. It’s like a little game to distract your brain and invite sleep. If you still can’t drift off, just pick another word and keep going.

And hey, if this doesn’t do the trick, don’t hesitate to chat with your GP about your sleep troubles. You deserve a good night’s rest!