Sleep Hygiene (Cognitive Shuffle)
Category: Physical Health & Performance
Tags: Sleep, Insomnia
Overview
Bedtime hyperarousal: your brain starts a PowerPoint of worries.
Definition
The Cognitive Shuffle scrambles the brain's alertness by mimicking random sleep onset thoughts.
The Science
Cortex vs Brainstem
Rumination keeps the cortex online. Random associations signal safety to the brainstem.
The Practice
The Word Game
- Pick a word (BEDTIME).
- Visualize words starting with B.
- Move to E.
- Drift.
Common Pitfalls
- Trying to too hard.
- Blue light exposure.
Key Takeaway
You cannot force sleep; you can only create conditions for it.