A doctor has shared an effective method for falling asleep quickly that many people are not aware of.
We all know the struggle of lying awake at night, whether it’s due to a mind that won’t quiet down or anxiety about the coming day. Factors like caffeine and alcohol consumption in the evening, along with health concerns such as chronic pain or sleep disorders, can further complicate the quest for restful sleep.
Research indicates that approximately one in three adults in the UK experience sleep difficulties, with surveys revealing that around 30 percent of adults report poor sleep quality.
In the United States, a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that 12 percent of the population has been diagnosed with chronic insomnia.
Fortunately, Dr. Amir Khan, a resident doctor on ITV, has introduced a ‘medically proven’ technique for bedtime to assist those who struggle with falling asleep.
Dr. Khan is a full-time NHS GP and a partner at a Bradford surgery. He frequently appears on TV shows like This Morning, Lorraine, and Morning Live, and he has gained a significant following on social media by offering medical advice and health tips.
Recently, he launched the podcast No Appointment Necessary with co-host Cherry Healey, where they discuss health topics, life hacks, and relationship issues.
In one episode, they focused on the significance of sleep and ways to enhance sleep quality.
Dr. Khan shared his method with viewers, stating: “If you really want a helpful technique to get off to sleep, there’s this thing that we use in medicine. It’s called cognitive shuffling.”
According to Dr. Khan, patients who have tried this technique have reported back with positive results regarding its effectiveness.
“Cognitive shuffling just gives your brain random things to think about that aren’t stressful and can be quite calming,” Dr. Khan explained. “The best thing to do is to go through the letters of the alphabet. Start with the letter A, think of all the names beginning with A, then move on to B, then move on to C. I promise you.”
This technique, created by cognitive scientist Dr. Luc Beaudoin, may seem simple, but it is grounded in scientific reasoning.
Cognitive shuffling aids in falling asleep by distracting the mind from racing or anxious thoughts, engaging it in a straightforward and low-stress activity that resembles the natural mental drift that occurs as you fall asleep.
While cognitive shuffling may not work for everyone, research shows it holds promise for helping many people fall asleep faster.
Dr. Khan’s Instagram followers have responded positively to his advice, with numerous success stories shared in the comments.
“Great tip, thank you,” one user commented, while another remarked: “I have started doing this and it helped me.”
Others have personalized the technique, as one person noted: “I do this with fruit, veg, boys names, girls names, countries etc, it does work.”