It’s a familiar experience: you’re melting into the couch, half-watching a series you’ve seen three times already, eyelids heavy — but the moment you drag yourself to bed? Bam. Wide. Awake.
So why does your brain pull a full 180 the minute your head hits the pillow? According to clinical psychologist Lisa Strauss, it’s not just bad luck — it’s psychology, routine, and a bit of self-sabotage.
Here’s what’s actually going on (and what you can do about it):
1. Moving to bed resets your sleep timer
That moment you get up from the couch and shuffle to your bedroom? It’s like pressing “restart” on your sleep cycle. Your brain, once seconds away from shutting down, is now alert again — new lighting, new posture, maybe even colder sheets.
Fix it: Don’t wait until you’re half-dead from exhaustion. Head to bed as soon as drowsiness kicks in.
2. Your ‘bedtime routine’ is waking you up
You’re tired, but then you brush your teeth under bright lights, scroll through your calendar, feed your pet, check TikTok… and now your brain’s buzzing again.
Fix it: Prep everything before you crash on the couch. Once drowsy, just glide into bed, lights low, no extra thinking required.
3. You’ve accidentally trained your brain to not sleep in bed
If you’ve ever tossed and turned for hours, your brain might now associate bed with stress — not sleep. This is called “conditioned arousal”, and it’s basically psychological sabotage.
Fix it: Only go to bed when you’re actually sleepy. And if you’re lying there awake after 20 minutes? Get up, do something calm, then try again.
4. You’re putting pressure on yourself to sleep
On the couch, you’re chill. In bed, you’re suddenly on a mission: “I need to sleep now or tomorrow is ruined.” That pressure amps up anxiety, not sleepiness.
Fix it: Sleep isn’t something you “achieve” — it’s something that happens when you let go. Try relaxation techniques or even light meditation before bed.
5. You lost your bedtime distraction
On the couch, you’ve got soft noise — Netflix, a book, your flatmate ranting about work. But in bed? Just you and your thoughts. No wonder your brain fills the silence.
Fix it: Give your mind something chill to focus on — an audiobook, white noise, or a sleep podcast can help bridge the gap between couch mode and dreamland.
Inspired by: Washington Post article by Lisa Strauss
Also read: What we should learn from SHEIN ban in France
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.
