Cognitive Shuffling: Conquer Your Late Night Anxiety With This Simple Sleep Hack

Between 50 and 70 million Americans struggle to sleep well each night. Not getting enough restorative sleep over time can add up and make you more susceptible to a plethora of health issues such as elevated blood pressure or Type-2 diabetes. It also can make managing your emotions more difficult each day.

You might have already heard about the most popular sleep hacks, from drinking the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, using sleep tech and breathing techniques. But if none of those have worked for you, consider trying the “cognitive shuffle” method. Below you’ll learn what the cognitive shuffling method is, whether it really does lead to better sleep and what others say about it. 

For more sleep hacks, see which foods you should eat before bed, how to stop getting up to go pee when you should be sleeping and why you might want to try the Scandinavian sleep method. 

What is cognitive shuffling?

It used to be that counting sheep was all the rage. But thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, you can access newer sleep techniques. One that’s been growing in popularity is cognitive shuffling for sleep. 

Read more: Fall Asleep Fast With This Tried-and-True 5-Minute Hack

Cognitive shuffling is a cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Luc P. Beaudoin, who holds a PhD in cognitive science. The goal is to disrupt your thought patterns by focusing on words, phrases or images to help your mind relax. Focusing on random things distracts your mind from items that could cause anxiety or stress, which can disrupt your ability to fall asleep. 

How to try cognitive shuffling for yourself