{"id":3779,"date":"2025-06-04T15:08:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T15:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=3779"},"modified":"2025-06-04T21:33:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T21:33:30","slug":"top-tier-sleep-hack-calms-your-nervous-system-in-seconds-and-you-might-already-do-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/04\/top-tier-sleep-hack-calms-your-nervous-system-in-seconds-and-you-might-already-do-it\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Top tier\u2019 sleep hack calms your nervous system in seconds \u2014 and you might already do it"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One TikTok sleep hack is helping countless people to doze off (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sleep can sometimes be a complicated beast, as according to the NHS<\/a>, around one in every three Brits struggles with insomnia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But there is one unique trick doing the rounds on TikTok<\/a> that\u2019s allegedly helping countless people doze off<\/a>\u2013 and it\u2019s called the \u2018cricket feet\u2019 or \u2018cricketing\u2019 method.<\/p>\n

With over 50 million views and 265,000 searches this month alone, it\u2019s a self-soothing technique that involves rubbing the feet together gently and repetitively as you\u2019re trying to fall asleep. Sometimes, it\u2019s even done subconsciously.<\/p>\n

When @notyouraveragethrpst asked her followers \u2018who else is laying in bed just \u201ccricketing\u201d their feet?’ many were surprised to hear that it was a common thing.<\/p>\n

\u2018Didn\u2019t know it had a name,\u2019 @ezeee1717 shared, adding that they\u2019ve \u2018been doing it [their] whole life.\u2019<\/p>\n

Another, @lindsaybatista, said they thought they were the \u2018only one\u2019 who did it, while @maureensqueo commented that they ‘often’ used it as a coping mechanism when when they\u2019re \u2018having a lot of anxiety.\u2019<\/p>\n

Does the \u2018cricket feet\u2019 method help you get to sleep?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As adult sleep consultant and The Sleep Works founder Maryanne Taylor tells Metro<\/strong>, while there isn\u2019t a huge amount of direct research on the links between \u2018cricket feet\u2019 and sleep, it does tap into \u2018self-soothing behaviours that can help calm the nervous system.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Gentle, repetitive movements like this can signal safety to the brain, especially during wind-down time,\u2019 she explains. \u2018They activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your calm setting), which helps the body relax enough to fall asleep.\u2019<\/p>\n

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@notyouraveragethrpst<\/a> <\/p>\n

I just learned about this and never realized I did it before \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

\u266c Hi – temoc<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Maryanne\u2019s top tip for ensuring a good night\u2019s sleep is a \u2018calm nervous system, but she says that a peaceful, uninterrupted slumber isn\u2019t just shaped by nighttime routines \u2013 it also comes down to \u2018habits, thoughts, and behaviours\u2019 throughout the day.<\/p>\n

And if the brain has been in \u2018go mode\u2019 all day long with little to no opportunity to slow down, it\u2019s ultimately \u2018not surprising that it struggles to wind down at bedtime.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Building in micro resets during the day to give the brain a chance to process and decompress, together with a wind-down routine that genuinely soothes the mind, rather than just ticking boxes, can be hugely helpful,\u2019 Maryanne says.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Feet\t<\/div>
Doing ‘cricket feet’ or ‘cricketing’ counts as a ‘stimming’ behaviour (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Are \u2018cricket feet\u2019 more common for neurodivergent people?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Neurodivergent people<\/a> have also long been sharing that they enjoy \u2018cricketing\u2019 as a stimming behaviour<\/a> \u2013 a self-stimulatory repeated movement for either sensory stimulation, or to \u2018keep calm and express joy,\u2019 according to the National Autistic Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TikToker @_joossiiee<\/a> included \u2018cricket feet\u2019 in a list of their \u2018neurodivergent sleep habits that are completely satisfying,\u2019 alongside \u2018aggressive face rubs\u2019 and \u2018the cave,\u2019 which involves burrowing under the duvet, burrito-style.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, @florishwithvicki<\/a> described it as a \u2018top tier stim.\u2019<\/p>\n

This checks out, too, as Maryanne says that research does support \u2018cricketing\u2019 as a self-soothing behaviour for neurodivergent people.<\/p>\n

This is because those with ADHD or autism in particular have a \u2018natural need for repetitive movement or sensory input for emotional comfort,\u2019 which in turn helps to \u2018calm their brain and regulate their nervous system.\u2019<\/p>\n

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@kelseyybeth<\/a> <\/p>\n

the ultimate stim. can\u2019t change my mind #fyp<\/a> #neurodivergent<\/a> #autistic<\/a> #actuallyautistic<\/a> #autistiktok<\/a> #autisticadult<\/a> #autisticwomen<\/a> #autisticcreator<\/a> #latediagnosedautistic<\/a> #unmaskingautism<\/a> #learnontiktok<\/a> #adhd<\/a> #adhdtiktok<\/a> #adhdinwomen<\/a> #adhdcheck<\/a> #adhdsquad<\/a> #latediagnosisadhd<\/a> #inattentiveadhd<\/a> #unmaskingadhd<\/a> #disabilityadvocate<\/a> #disabilitytiktok<\/a> #disabledcreator<\/a> #stimming<\/a> #stimmingpositivity<\/a> #stims<\/a> #grounding<\/a> #cricketfeet<\/a> #foodie<\/a> #DoritosDareToBeBurned<\/a> #OLAFLEX<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c – <\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

But \u2018cricket feet\u2019 aside, Maryanne has another self-soothing sleep system to recommend: the pre-bed \u2018brain dump.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Before bed, write down three things you don\u2019t need to think about until tomorrow,\u2019 she explains, noting that this technique helps \u2018relieve the build-up of mental pressure that impacts as soon as you lie down in bed.\u2019<\/p>\n

In her view, the brain wants to \u2018hold onto everything it thinks is important,\u2019 so processing it on a piece of paper \u2018gives you permission to let go for the night.\u2019<\/p>\n

Likewise, she suggests dimming the lights earlier than you normally would \u2013 at least an hour before bed, as softer lighting helps the brain to \u2018transition\u2019 into sleep mode, as well as supports natural melatonin production (AKA, the sleep hormone).<\/p>\n

Ready to sleep like a baby tonight? Sweet dreams.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One TikTok sleep hack is helping countless people to doze off (Picture: Getty Images) Sleep can sometimes be a complicated beast, as according to the NHS, around one in every three Brits struggles with insomnia. But there is one unique trick doing the rounds on TikTok that\u2019s allegedly helping countless people doze off\u2013 and it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3779"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3784,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779\/revisions\/3784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}