If you have tried out the sleep hygiene do’s and don’ts from my previous post and you continue to have persistent sleep problems. The next Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach to consider is “Stimulus Control” which will be explained below.
Most people have heard of SLEEP HYGIENE, the classic do’s & dont’s for better rest. Things like keeping a consistent bedtime, limiting caffeine, avoiding screens late at night, & making your bedroom dark & cool.
These are important foundations, but sometimes, even when you follow them perfectly, SLEEP STILL DOESN’T COME. That’s when another approach can help: STIMULUS CONTROL.
Stimulus control is about retraining your brain to ASSOCIATE your bed ONLY with sleep (& intimacy), instead of frustration, scrolling, or tossing & turning. Over time, many people accidentally teach their brain that “BED = BEING AWAKE” Stimulus control flips that script.
Think of it like rewiring your brain. Over time, your bed becomes a CUR FOR SLEEP instead of a battleground with insomnia.
So, if good sleep hygiene hasn’t made much difference, don’t give up because stimulus control could be the missing piece. It takes consistency & patience, but for many, it’s one of the most effective tools for breaking the cycle of sleepless nights.
Your bed should be a place of rest. NOTHING ELSE.
