I have the opposite problem - if I'm thinking too hard near bedtime about financial math or boolean algebra for example, I won't be able to sleep. My brain is too active going through all the calculations in my head.
If I want to fall asleep within 5 minutes, what works for me is varied physical and mental exercise throughout the day, and an easygoing book or movie near bedtime.
If there's something stressful going on the next day, a tech-nerd podcast like ATP helps me forget about it and get to sleep. But I try not to let late night podcasts become a habit - sometimes they get too interesting and I stay up for over an hour to keep listening.
For me, it has to be really hard, not like some leftover work you didn’t do that day. The more open ended the better. For example, how to make a transistor out of readily available household components. How would you do lithography, doping, etc.
Jesus, that line of thinking is a recipe to keep me up for days. How you could even begin to fall asleep with a line of thought so interesting is beyond me.
If I want to fall asleep within 5 minutes, what works for me is varied physical and mental exercise throughout the day, and an easygoing book or movie near bedtime.
If there's something stressful going on the next day, a tech-nerd podcast like ATP helps me forget about it and get to sleep. But I try not to let late night podcasts become a habit - sometimes they get too interesting and I stay up for over an hour to keep listening.