# Cognitive shuffling can help you fall asleep quickly Cognitive shuffling is a mental exercise designed to distract the mind and mimic the random thought patterns that occur before sleep, similar to counting sheep. **==The technique involves picking a random word, spelling it out in your head, and for each letter listing as many words as you can that start with that letter—visualizing each one before moving to the next letter.==** For example, if the word is "mask," you would list and picture words starting with "m," then "a," then "s," and finally "k". Experts say this practice can help some people reduce sleep-related anxiety and "performance anxiety" about trying to fall asleep, because it keeps the mind gently occupied and less focused on worries. However, it is not effective for everyone—some might find it stressful or feel pressured by the exercise, which can actually make sleep worse. Cognitive shuffling is not a replacement for overall good sleep hygiene, which remains important for consistent, high-quality sleep. In summary, cognitive shuffling is a low-effort word game intended to induce sleep by distracting the mind with random thoughts, but its effectiveness varies from person to person. --- ## 📚 References - [This Viral Mental Exercise Could Help You Fall Asleep Quickly](https://www.verywellhealth.com/cognitive-shuffling-8722476) --- _Note: this page was at least partly written using generative AI._