Using the Cognitive Shuffle to get out of an anxious spin-cycle
I have been doing a similar thing, for some time now, when I wake up in the middle of the night.
I use the alphabet thing with names. I will pick a theme— female names, for example.
I usually start with A and fall asleep by about E or F. Sometimes I refine the category—old-fashioned female names, for example.
I find that it’s engaging enough to get my mind off what I’m thinking about, but boring enough that I fall asleep.
If I get all the way to Z, I just get up and go read or something because I figure, at that point, I must not be tired enough to sleep!!
(I’ve also done it with fruits and vegetables, as a category, or city names, etc. It usually works to put me back to sleep!
I love this! I particularly love that it works as a solo exercise and can be an instant resource when one finds oneself awake with a busy brain in the middle of the night. I'll definitely be trying this version myself. Thanks!
I like that exercise. Its easy to remember, and effective. Thank you
You are most welcome. 😊
I have been doing a similar thing, for some time now, when I wake up in the middle of the night.
I use the alphabet thing with names. I will pick a theme— female names, for example.
I usually start with A and fall asleep by about E or F. Sometimes I refine the category—old-fashioned female names, for example.
I find that it’s engaging enough to get my mind off what I’m thinking about, but boring enough that I fall asleep.
If I get all the way to Z, I just get up and go read or something because I figure, at that point, I must not be tired enough to sleep!!
(I’ve also done it with fruits and vegetables, as a category, or city names, etc. It usually works to put me back to sleep!
I love this! I particularly love that it works as a solo exercise and can be an instant resource when one finds oneself awake with a busy brain in the middle of the night. I'll definitely be trying this version myself. Thanks!
I like that exercise. Its easy to remember, and effective. Thank you
You are most welcome. 😊