counting sheep
Bedtime mental exercise
Counting sheep is an imagined activity for inducing sleep—picturing sheep jumping over a fence one by one while counting them.
The monotony supposedly lulls the mind into drowsiness.
The phrase often appears as advice or self-deprecating admission: I was up all night counting sheep.
Whether it actually works is doubtful.
Animals gathered together
- woollyCovered in soft fibers
- jumpingPropelling oneself airborne
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
meadow · fluffy · white · leaping · floating · pastoral · serene · dreamlike
Inability to rest
- restlessnessState of unease
- tossingLight underhand throw
- turningAct of rotating
- wide-awakeFully conscious and attentive
overthinking · anxiety · frustration · clock-watching · exhaustion · fatigue · wakefulness · bedroom
Tiresome lack of change
- repetitionAct of redoing
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- rhythmicHaving regular tempo
- numbingCausing loss of sensation
droning · endless · counting · routine · mechanical · hypnotic · dull · predictable
Reducing distress or discomfort
- calmingInducing a settled state
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- visualizationForming mental or graphical images
breathing · tranquility · serenity · drowsy · peaceful · gentle · rhythmic · hypnotic
flock
Animals gathered together
- woollyCovered in soft fibers
- jumpingPropelling oneself airborne
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
pasture · meadow · fluffy · white · leaping · floating · pastoral · serene · dreamlike · soft
sleeplessness
Inability to rest
- restlessnessState of unease
- tossingLight underhand throw
- turningAct of rotating
wide-awake · overthinking · anxiety · frustration · clock-watching · exhaustion · fatigue · wakefulness · bedroom · pillow
monotony
Tiresome lack of change
- repetitionAct of redoing
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- rhythmicHaving regular tempo
numbing · droning · endless · counting · routine · mechanical · hypnotic · dull · predictable · sameness
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
- calmingInducing a settled state
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
visualization · breathing · tranquility · serenity · drowsy · peaceful · gentle · rhythmic · hypnotic · lulling
- counting activitiestallying, adding up, numbering, enumerating, tabulating
- sleep aidsmelatonin, sleeping pills, sleeping pill, sleep aid, Ambien
- Bedtime CharactersSandman, boogeyman, monster under bed, closet monster, dream guide
- bedtimesleeping, pajamas, napping, resting, bedtime story
- dreamsnightmare, dreaming, daydream, nightmares, dreams
- Sheepewe, ram, lamb, merino, fleece
counting sheepstaying up
Remaining awake past bedtime
drinking coffee · binge-watching · burning the midnight oil · tossing and turning · wide awake
counting sheepadrenaline rush
Intense sudden excitement
jump scare · racing thoughts · overthinking · sensory overload · fight-or-flight response
counting sheepracing thoughts
Rapid uncontrollable mental activity
brainstorming · problem-solving · mental stimulation · creative thinking · overthinking
count, account, sheep, counter, recount, counted, counts, accountant, accountable