A friend says their mind races the moment they get into bed and they can't fall asleep. What would you suggest they try?

A natural way to answer

I'd suggest a proper wind-down routine — dim lights, no screens, maybe some reading. The brain needs a signal that the day is over. And if sleep won't come, get up rather than lying there clock-watching.

Key phrases to use

• whirring around — (of thoughts) spinning busily and restlessly in your mind“My thoughts were whirring around at 2 a.m.”
• keeping them up — preventing someone from falling asleep“The noise was keeping me up.”
• drift past — (of thoughts) to pass through your mind gently without you holding on to them“Let the thoughts just drift past instead of grabbing them.”
• wind-down routine — a calming set of actions done before bed to help you relax“A good wind-down routine helps me sleep.”
• clock-watching — anxiously checking the time over and over“I lay there clock-watching until dawn.”
• slips through your fingers — (of something you want) gets lost or escapes when you try to grasp it“The harder I try, the more sleep slips through my fingers.”