hebel. today · 9 November 202619 / 74

Health · Digital Wellness

Writing to-do lists helps you sleep faster

Michael Scullin’s team at Baylor’s sleep lab found that students who spent 5 minutes writing a specific to-do list for the following days before bed fell asleep 9 minutes faster than those who wrote…

Michael Scullin’s team at Baylor’s sleep lab found that students who spent 5 minutes writing a specific to-do list for the following days before bed fell asleep 9 minutes faster than those who wrote about tasks they had already completed (Matt Tilmann from Mitten Dad Minute). By parking open mental loops on paper, the brain reduces the cognitive load that otherwise triggers late-night device use as a form of pacification. This practice of externalizing mental burdens allows individuals to transition away from the habitual scrolling that often serves as a response to stress or boredom.

  • Jennifer Depew suggests batching recurring logistics and using a physical notebook to dump thoughts, which preserves working memory and reduces decision fatigue (deNutrients).
  • Judson Brewer advises pausing to ask what the body is feeling before checking a fitness tracker to prevent the metrics from becoming an external, judgmental reward system (Jud Brewer MD PhD from Inside the Curious Mind).
  • Naomi Alderman reports that participants who locked their phones in a cupboard from Friday to Sunday read significantly more and felt a greater sense of control (Naomi Alderman from Whatever Works).
  • Oliver Rolfe recommends leaving a short note before closing the day that identifies the next practical action to maintain clarity without needing to solve everything at once (Spartan Xtra by Spartan International).

Try today · 5 min

Write a specific to-do list for tomorrow before you go to bed.

Keep a notebook and pen on your kitchen counter or bedside table.

You need

  • Physical notebook
  • Pen

Steps

  1. Identify the top tasks you need to complete tomorrow.
  2. Write them down in a list format.
  3. Be as specific as possible with each entry.
  4. Close the notebook and leave it in a visible place.
  5. Go to sleep without checking your phone.

One email instead of your newsletter pile.

Forward the newsletters you already get (a Gmail filter does it) and tell Hebel your goals. Every morning it reads them with 20,000 others and sends one short email, with one small thing to do today. Fewer emails, not more. Free during beta.

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Sources

  1. deNutrients on hebel. →This piece outlines how to streamline daily logistics and use physical notebooks to offload hyper-focus loops and intrusive thoughts.

  2. Jud Brewer MD PhD, Inside the Curious Mind on hebel. → ✎ Written by a personThis article discusses how to use internal body cues instead of fitness tracker metrics to avoid obsessive goal-chasing.

  3. Naomi Alderman, Whatever Works on hebel. → ✎ Written by a personThis collection of reader experiences highlights the benefits of locking away digital devices to restore focus and agency.

  4. Matt Tilmann, Mitten Dad Minute on hebel. → ✎ Written by a personThis study details the 5-minute writing routine that helps clear the mind and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

  5. Spartan Xtra by Spartan International on hebel. →This guide provides a structure for daily reviews and identifying next actions to prevent work from bleeding into personal time.

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