Focusing all your attention on how you can’t get to sleep will only make sleep more difficult. Instead, distract yourself with engaging imagery, involving as many as your senses as possible.

For example, close your eyes and picture a nice beach—can you hear the crashing of waves? Feel the sun on your skin? Taste the salt from the sea?

If you’re unable to sleep because you’re fixated on something stressful that’s happening the next day, it’s common to want to push those thoughts from your mind. However, doing so may hurt more than it helps.

Remembering the mundane tasks that follow something stressful, can help you ...