I think it’s safe to say that at some point in our lives we’ve all heard the phrase “counting sheep” when someone’s trying their best to nod off at night. Maybe you've even tried it yourself – we know we have – trying your hardest to picture a steady parade of fluffy sheep hopping over a little fence while you lay there, wide-eyed, desperate and begging your brain for some much needed shut-eye. But have you ever stopped to wonder where this idea actually even came from in the first place, or whether it actually does anything?
Let's have a proper chat about it.
so, where did counting sheep come from?
As it turns out, counting sheep has been around for donkey’s years – centuries, in fact. Although, given the fact it’s our grandmas who told most of us to try this, that might not be all that surprising. It's thought to have originated from shepherds, who would spend their evenings counting their flock before bedtime (and probably ending up drifting off halfway through). Over time, it morphed itself into a full blown sleep strategy. By the 1800s, it had sneakily worked its way into popular culture as a kind of go-to sleep aid (1).
what’s the big idea?
On the surface, counting sheep can sound a bit silly, right? But the logic behind it is actually perfectly sound. It's all about distracting your oh so clever brain. When your head hits the pillow and the mind decides to start spiralling, sprinting through to-do lists, reliving awkward memories from year 9, or focusing intensely on that weird noise the boiler's making – counting sheep gives your brain something repetitive and neutral to focus on.
It's a bit like manually putting your mind on autopilot. No drama. No stress. Just sheep. One... two... three... zzz.
so does it actually work?
Well, here’s the twist – studies have shown that just counting sheep on its own might not be the cure to all magic bullets we had hoped. Some researchers have found that people who imagined relaxing scenes like beaches or waterfalls actually tend to fall asleep faster than those counting sheep (2).
Why? Because, understandably, the sheep thing can be a bit too dull. Potentially, leading your brain to get bored and possibly wander off again into a world of its own making. So, unless you really love livestock, it’s possible that it might not be enough to keep your mind totally settled and help you drift off.
That said, anything that might help slow down your thoughts and shift your focus away from stress is definitely worth a try. It's like a mental alternative to giving your brain a cup of chamomile tea and a nice snuggly blanket.
so, should you bother?
It's really up to you. If you fancy it, then absolutely – but maybe give it a little twist unique to you. Instead of just counting endless sheep, maybe mix it up a little, try counting deep breaths, imagining waves crashing on a beach with each number, or visualising each sheep with a funny hat.
We don't want things to be too complicated that you end up keeping yourself awake, but the point is to get into a rhythm – a lazy mental lullaby, if you like.
final thoughts
All in all, sleep is weird, and different for everyone. Sometimes you’re out like a light, and other nights you’re staring at the ceiling wondering why you even thought about drinking coffee at 4pm. If counting sheep helps to calm your thoughts, even just a bit, then go for it.
Worst case? You’ve mentally adopted a tiny, yet adorable, woolly flock. Best case? you’re snoring before sheep number 42 makes it over the fence.
Until next time, eve Sleep.
sources:
- https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/24/health/counting-sheep-for-sleep-explained-wellness
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-96542/Forget-counting-sheep-sleep-waterfall.html
