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Let Go of Worries Before Bed

You may be able to quiet sleep-disrupting thoughts

By

Staying Sharp

Updated August 04, 2026

Updated August 04, 2026

A woman sleeping in a bed with her head on a stack of two pillows

PeopleImages/Getty Images

Quick Win

Learn how to quiet stressful thoughts and replace them with positive alternatives to drift into peaceful sleep.

Try This Today

As you lie down in bed, think about something that brings you tranquility and peace. Focus on the thought and expand upon the details.
If a worry or stress emerges in your mind, redirect to focus on your tranquil, peaceful thoughts.
Visualize positive moments and people in your life.

Why

Clearing your mind may help you get a good night’s sleep. In a study of 216 adults ages 20 to 80, those who frequently had positive thoughts — such as thinking about happy experiences from the past, present or future — were less likely to feel tired or have trouble concentrating due to poor sleep. More repetitive negative thinking was linked with more sleep impairment. The results were published in Clinical Gerontologist in 2022.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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