Stop counting sheep, shuffle words instead: the science behind cognitive shuffling

Published Jun 27, 2025, 4:58 AM

Associate Professor Melinda Jackson, a sleep scientist and psychologist at Monash University in Melbourne, joins John Maytham to explain the science behind the trending sleep hack known as cognitive shuffling. The technique involves distracting your mind with random, disconnected thoughts to mimic the dream-like thinking good sleepers have before nodding off. Melinda breaks down the research supporting this method and discusses whether it can truly help people struggling to fall asleep.

 

 

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