Doctor's simple 'brain trick' will help you fall asleep quickly

Young woman sleeping
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


While some people are able to drift off to sleep effortlessly, others can't seem to shut down their minds long enough to get a good night's rest. Dr Scott Walter, a board-certified dermatologist from Denver, claims he's found the secret for restless sleepers.

In a viral TikTok video hailed as 'revolutionary', Dr Walter disclosed his technique for swiftly fallling asleep that has transformed many restless nights into dreamy dozes. He said: "I'm a doctor and sometimes I struggle to fall asleep. I'm going to tell you about the method that was like a light-switch moment for me once I learned it."

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He said his approach does not involve medications or specific pre-sleep routines before presenting a mental tactic known as cognitive shuffling.

Dr Walter affirms: "No, it doesn't involve taking something like melatonin or other supplements. It doesn't involve taking a hot shower before bed or even reading something like that. It's a simple mental exercise we call cognitive shuffling."

He likens it to jumbling up one's thoughts in the same way cards are shuffled, directing the mind away from persistent thought processes that might inhibit sleep. To showcase its adaptability, he stresses that there isn't a universal formula for its implementation.

He suggested: "There are a couple of ways to do it. One is just thinking of random words or objects that have nothing to do with each other."

As he reeled off examples like cow, leaf, sandwich, butter, and liver, he explained: "Things like that - just random words that make no sense."

Offering another technique, he said, think of a letter and time your thoughts with your heartbeat. "Every eight beats, you think of a word that begins with that letter."

This not only diverts the mind but also resembles the 'micro dreams' we experience when drifting into sleep.

Reacting to his video, one person commented: "Prayer! Works every time."

Yet another viewer divulged their bedtime solution: "My method is doing stories in my mind until I fall asleep."

And another advised: "What I do is I pick a very non-related topic and start discussing it with myself. It usually does the job."

As for how many hours of sleep are enough, the NHS states it varies per individual. If daytime fatigue is common for you, you likely need more sleep.

A set sleep routine can improve the quality of your rest. If difficulties persist, your GP can provide guidance on options and further measures to consider.