Does a racing mind stop you from getting to sleep?
- Sophie Bostock, PhD
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
Have you ever noticed that your mind gets busy the moment your head hits the pillow?
Thinking before sleep is completely normal.
In fact, research shows that both good sleepers and people with insomnia report plenty of mental activity before sleep.
The difference isn’t whether you think.
It’s what kind of thinking you’re doing.
The New Scientist also discuss how a restless mind is one of the most common barriers to sleep, as well as techniques to steer your attention away from the stress.
Two types of bedtime minds
The Drifting Mind (Good Sleepers)
People who fall asleep easily don’t usually have silent minds; instead, their thinking shifts.
Their thoughts become:
Dream-like scenes
Random fragments
Loose, illogical connections
Brief sensory “mini-dreams”
This is part of the natural transition into sleep. The brain gradually moves away from structured, goal-directed thinking and into imagery. Thoughts become softer, less controlled or analytical.
You might picture walking on a beach, a strange mash-up of faces and places or snippets of conversations that don’t quite make sense.
This drifting state is sometimes called hypnagogic imagery, the bridge between wake and sleep. When the mind wanders, sleep can take over.
The Problem-Solving Mind (Struggling Sleepers)
For people who struggle to fall asleep, the brain often stays in daytime mode.
It sounds like:
“Did I reply to that email?”
“What if tomorrow goes badly?”
“I only have six hours left… now five…”
“Why am I still awake?”
“Why can’t I fall asleep?”
The thinking is logical, linear, or task-focused. Instead of drifting, the brain is rehearsing, planning, monitoring or evaluating.
Pre-sleep arousal is not just mental - It’s physical
If your mind feels busy at night, your body is often activated too. Researchers measure this using something called the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale — a tool that assesses both:
Cognitive arousal (“I can’t shut off my thoughts”)
Somatic arousal (“A tight, tense feeling in my muscles”)
Higher pre-sleep arousal is strongly linked to difficulty falling asleep. When your brain is problem-solving or worrying, it activates the nervous system:
Muscles hold more tension
Breathing becomes shallower
Heart rate may increase
The brain scans for threat
Entering the sleep state requires a state of safety, unless you are truly exhausted. If your nervous system thinks it needs to stay alert, it won’t fully let go.
Why does trying to “switch off” backfire?
Many people tell themselves:
“I just need to stop thinking.”
Actively trying not to think creates another task for the brain; now it’s monitoring:“Am I thinking?”, “Why is this not working?”, “This is a disaster.”.
The goal isn’t to make your mind go blank. Instead, we gently guide the mind away from logic and evaluation, and toward softer mental states.
How to Gently Shift Your restless Mind Toward Sleep instead
1. Calming Imagery
Picture a favourite beach, forest path, or peaceful room. Engage the senses: What can you see? What can you hear? What does the air feel like? Imagery nudges the brain toward the drifting state that supports sleep.
2. Cognitive Refocusing
Replay a familiar TV episode, book plot, or routine journey in detail. It gives the mind something neutral to hold onto — without activating problem-solving mode.
3. Simple Thought Blockers
Repeat a neutral word silently. It could be “calm,” “soft,” or even something random like “apple.” This occupies mental space without emotional charge.
4. Mindfulness
Rest attention gently on your breath. When the mind wanders (which it will), bring it back, without frustration. The aim isn’t control. It’s steady attention.
5. Gratitude (A Personal Favourite)
Before sleeping, think of three good things from your day. They don’t need to be elaborate: a warm drink, a kind message, a moment of sunshine, a task completed. It is neurologically difficult for the brain to feel stressed and genuinely grateful at the same time. Gratitude subtly shifts emotional tone away from threat and toward safety. And safety invites sleep.
Sleep Is a Softening Process
Sleep isn’t about switching the mind off. It’s about letting it gradually loosen.
From structured → to scattered.
From solving → to wandering.
From tense → to safe.
If your mind gets busy at night, nothing has gone wrong. Your brain is simply doing what brains do. Instead of fighting it, guide it. Soften it. Create the right conditions and then allow sleep to come to you.
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