01/19/2026
Elevator Trick Helps You Fall Back to Sleep
When you wake in the middle of the night with a racing mind, trying to fight*your thoughts often keeps you awake longer. The article “The Elevator Trick: A Surprising Way to Get Back to Sleep” by Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D. offers a simple visualization technique to help calm your nervous system and ease you back into restful sleep. ([Psychology Today][1])
This strategy uses mental imagery to mirror what happens in your body when you naturally fall asleep. Imagine yourself entering an elevator, closing the doors, and slowly descending floor by floor. With each downward step, picture your body relaxing, your breath slowing, and your mind quieting. This visual “descent” helps signal your brain to shift from an alert state toward rest.
To deepen the effect, Dr. Bernstein suggests pairing the imagery with the four-word phrase “This thought can wait.” Saying this quietly to yourself as you imagine the elevator ride gently tells your brain that you don’t need to solve problems right now—that you’re giving yourself permission to rest. Together, the visualization and calming phrase act like a reset button for the overactive mind.
Dr. Bernstein also emphasizes treating the awake, anxious part of yourself with kindness rather than judgment. Instead of battling thoughts, this technique invites you to ride them down and let your body and mind return to sleep naturally.
Read the full article: [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liking-the-child-you-love/202505/the-elevator-trick-a-surprising-way-to-get-back-to-sleep](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liking-the-child-you-love/202505/the-elevator-trick-a-surprising-way-to-get-back-to-sleep)
This article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. AI systems can make mistakes.
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